Latin Etymology: Oryctolagus ("dug up hare") cuniculus ("rabbit")
Adult Eurasian Rabbit (subspecies O. c. cuniculus) at Wooler, Cumbria - July 2009
Featured Subspecies: Oryctolagus cuniculus cuniculus
Length: 38-58cm / Weight: 1000-2500gUK STATUS NOT EVALUTATED / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
Rabbits are a very common and widespread species, and, along with grey squirrels, about the easiest wild mammals to see in the UK. Also like the Grey Squirrel, they are not native to the UK, but instead originate in the Iberian penninsula, though introduced far earlier by the Romans. They can often be seen in fields or along road verges in the countryside. They live in large communal warrens and act as grazers on land that would otherwise lack one due to the human tendency to block off larger animals. Although a dangerous pest in many introduced countries, there are some species that benefit from it's presence in the UK including predators like Fox and Stoat, and the Stone Curlew which benefits from the closely grazed grassland for nesting,
Related Species:
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Genus: Oryctolagus
SUBSPECIES: O. c. cuniculus, O. c. huxleyi, O. c. algirus
- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident
- Seen commonly at a large number of sites, including but not limited to Geddington, Rutland Water and Wooler
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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