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Interesting Facts About Rabbits
Some people think rabbits and hares are rodents, but the interesting facts about rabbits are that they are not. It has been discovered that rabbits, hares and rodents may have shared a common prehistoric ancestor. Rabbits and hares are from a completely different family. Rabbits and hares have two sets of upper front teeth were the rodent does not. A rabbit and a hare may look similar and act similar but they are two different species. Some interesting facts about rabbits are that they are highly sociable and live underground in community group. While a hare lives above ground and are solitary creatures. Hares are generally the larger of the two with longer legs and torso. During the Middle Ages, the French Monks as a food source and for the rabbit’s fur kept rabbits. Through selective breeding, the monks produced a variety of colors not found in the wild. By the 19th century there were twelve different rabbit breeds. It was during the 18th & 19th centuries, Industrial Revolution, that breeding stock became very popular. It was then the idea of breeding rabbits solely for meat was out. Breeding practices were born to include breed standards, breed clubs, national organizations, shows and good breeding practices. The first true domestic breed is the English Lop, the rabbits with big floppy ears. In 1845, the 1st rabbit orginazation was formed in Great Britain and is called Metropolitan Rabbit Club. The first United States rabbit orginazation is American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA), which started in 1910 and still in business today. The interesting facts about rabbits are that they were once wild but are now living with humans fully domesticated. Even though they are domesticated, rabbits know they are prey animals. They use their keen senses to hear or smell if danger is near. Did you know they could move their ears independently of each other? They can, to help them hear if danger is approaching. It's the rabbit's own built-in radar system. They also have powerful hind legs that they use to get them out of danger. That is why you’ll see rabbits darting across a yard very quickly. Wild rabbits can reach speeds of 24 miles an hour.
Rabbits are neat creatures. They groom themselves frequently. This is why you need to be careful of hairballs. Rabbits are quiet, but communicate through their body language.
Do You Know How Long Rabbits Live? Here are some tips.
Even though rabbits have been bred throughout the years to become domesticated, they have kept much of their wild character, such as their physiology, behavior and temperament. This is why we find rabbits to be fascinating to watch and have as wonderful pets. Interesting Facts About Rabbits
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