European Rabbit

- No description given -

comments (9)

Christine Young

Lion

Could this be an escaped pet? Or, a melanistic individual? Posted 2 years ago
1. Lisa Kimmerling
  
  Lion
  
  I was thinking it looked like an escaped pet as well. Posted 2 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    I've removed the ID for now... Posted 2 years ago

GRANT CALLIHAN

Bullet Ant

I saw several of these at the same park, I don't think they were escaped pets. But I guess they could be. Posted 2 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Interesting that you saw several black ones. Maybe the population started as escaped/released pets and then multiplied? Posted 2 years ago
2. 1. Lisa Kimmerling
    
    Lion
    
    The face/body shape on this looks more like a melanistic European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), but I could be wrong. We need a bunny expert! Posted 2 years ago, modified 2 years ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      I was thinking the same species as a possibility. Posted 2 years ago

Nora Callihan

Bullet Ant

What is it that makes you so sure it's an escaped pet? There are plenty of wild bunnies out there. Posted 2 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  It doesn't look quite like a desert cottontail (note the ears). Also, European rabbits are invasive and are known to have spread across the U.S. This particular bunny looks like that species (melanistic form). So, it makes sense that European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) may be the correct ID. It could be an escaped pet or part of a wild population.
  
  http://www.tsusinvasives.org/home/database/oryctolagus-cuniculus Posted 2 years ago, modified 2 years ago

The European Rabbit

The European Rabbit or Common Rabbit is a species of rabbit native to south west Europe and north west Africa. It has been widely introduced elsewhere often with devastating effects on local biodiversity. However, its decline in its native range has caused the decline of its highly dependent predators, the Iberian Lynx and the Spanish Imperial Eagle.

Info 14 0

Similar species: Hares, Rabbits And Pikas

Species identified by Alex Callihan