Rabbits belong to the Leporidae family, which they share with hares, but from whom they differ in both gender and taxonomic characteristics. Rabbits are grouped into various genera, but the best known is Oryctolagus, within which we find the common rabbit or also called the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
Due to its adaptability to a wide variety of habitats and reproductive success, it is considered one of the world's 100 invasive alien species because of the impact it generates. However, we must bear in mind that its introduction in regions other than its original space is caused by people who have introduced it for various purposes, in no case is it the responsibility of the animal.
In this article on our site we want you to know and learn a little more about the rabbit's anatomy. Take note!
General anatomical features of the rabbit
The rabbit is a small animal, with a symmetrical and elongated bodyThe weight changes according to the variety or breed, being able to go from 1 kg to 6 kg Both the head and the neck are small, in some rabbits the fur it forms folds in this last structure as if it were a double chin. It has glands for the production of pheromones in the chin and the perianal area, which it uses to communicate and mark the territory.
The front limbs are smaller than the hind limbs, the former have five fingers with strong nails, while the hind limbs have greater strength to optimize jumps. They do not have pads and they also use them to generate vibrations on the ground and communicate, for example, in case of danger. The rabbit's tail is short, also useful for communication through movement. These characteristics are the most outstanding of the general anatomical features of the rabbit.
Rabbit's senses
The rabbit has a complex sensory system, so it uses all its senses, visual, tactile, acoustic and chemical In addition, it is capable of efficiently sensing thermal changes and vibrations. The rabbit is an animal with an important ability to communicate through smells and touch.
Rabbits see with large eyes and are located more laterally than frontally. Red coloration is common, although they can also be of other colors depending on the variety. The nose is highly sensitive, which it moves easily. Under the tissue of the nostrils there are some kind of pads, linked to the perception of smells. It has two long ears, devoid of internal hair, mobile, which allow it to capture sounds at great distances and additionally play a fundamental role in body thermoregulation.
The rabbit skin
Rabbit skin is characterized by having two types of hair. One external and visible generally bright, strong and relatively long. The other internal, which is shorter and of a woolly type, is very useful for cold habitats.
The coat coloration of the common rabbit tends to be gray in combinations with black and brownwith the lower area lighter, as well as the lower area of the white tail. Melanistic and albino rabbits are quite common. However, given the selective crosses made, a large number of varieties have been obtained, which can be unicolor or combined.
Rabbit digestive system
The rabbit's digestive system starts in the mouth, in which there are 28 teeth, highlighting its large incisors. To take food, in addition to its teeth, it relies on its mobile lips and tongue. Later are the pharynx and the esophagus, the latter is short, through which the food is moved to the stomach.
Rabbits are monogastric animals, that is, their stomach is made up of a single compartment. In an adult rabbit, this system measures up to about 5 m approximately, in which about 100 gr of food is depositedThen we find the small intestine, where an important degradation of the food mass occurs thanks to the secretions of the liver and pancreas, so that the nutrients are then absorbed by the mucosa of the tissue.
The non-degraded particles in the small intestine pass to the cecum in the large intestine, where an important process of degradation by bacterial enzymes occurs. Subsequently, the remaining mass is mobilized to the colon and up to this point in general the digestive system is similar to other monogastric animals.
The peculiarity of the rabbit lies in the dual function of the colon, since if the food enters in the early hours of the morning, they will not be completely processed and will form masses wrapped in mucus in the form of clusters, known as cecotrophies. If the stomach contents arrive in later hours, they will be subjected to an absorption process that will extract all the moisture, resulting in a dry fecal mass.
An important aspect is that when the rabbit releases the cecotrophies, as they still have nutrients, which can be used by the animal, it consumes them as soon as it expels them, so that this mass returns to go through the digestion process.
The rabbit's digestive system ends with the anus, through which the rabbit expels feces and cecotrophies.
Rabbit cardiorespiratory system
The rabbit's heart is located in the ventral area of the thorax, and next to it are the two lungs. It is divided into four cavities , two upper or atria, responsible for receiving blood and two lower or ventricles, through which blood is expelled. Additionally, this system consists of pulmonary artery and veins, aortic artery, anterior and posterior vena cava.
As for the rabbit's respiratory system, in addition to the lungs, it is made up of the nostrils or external breathing holes, the nostrils, internal respiratory openings or choanae, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, pulmonary lobules, and the diaphragm.
Rabbit Reproductive System
The reproductive system of rabbits consists of: ovaries, oviducts, uterus, vagina and vulva. In the case of the reproductive system of rabbits, we find: testicles, vas deferens, urethral duct, penis, prostate, seminal vesicles, vesicular gland and Cowper's gland.
The sexual maturity in females is between 3.5 and 4 months, while in males it is a little later, from 4.5 to 5 months.
Rabbit bone system
Regarding the bone system of the rabbit, we found that the head is made up of flat bones that have no mobility, except for those located in the lower jaw. The bones that are located in the head are: occipital, frontal, parietal, temporal, lacrimal, nasal, upper and lower jaw.
The trunk of the rabbit is made up of various small bones, where the various types of vertebrae are located (cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral and caudal); the ribs and other bones that make up the rib cage.
The forelimbs are made up of the scapula, humerus, ulna, radius, carpal bones, metacarpal bones, and phalanges. The hindlimbs are made up of the femur, tibia, fibula, tarsus, metatarsus and the phalanges. The latter are attached to the spine through the pelvis, which in turn is made up of the ilium, ischium and pubis.
The rabbit has been an animal from which various varieties have been obtained for marketing purposes, so that rabbit meat and fur are highly consumed in various countries. Currently, the common rabbit is in danger of extinction according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, mainly due to actions caused by people.
And if you know more general anatomical features of the rabbit that are not here, don't forget to leave your comment.
