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RABBITS (European)

 

Oryctolagus cuniculus--Lagomorpha,  Leporidae.

 

 

(Contacts)

 

 

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       Rabbits from Europe invaded Australia where they became severe crop pests.  In Europe the same species of rabbit coexists with various viral  diseases and does not reach the high numbers found in Australia.  Tularemia is a plague that infects rodents, especially rabbits and hares worldwide.  The causative agent is the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which has not been considered for introduction into Australia.  In California and elsewhere of North America the European rabbit has become a serious pest by consuming garden vegetables and stealing food items that are accessible after which such are sequestered in an array of hiding places, such as under automobile hoods on their motors.

 

Natural Enemies

 

       The European rabbit is the only species that can die from  myxomatosis.  The most lethal strain incubates for five days, after which the eyelids swell, and the inflammation spreads  to the base of the ears, the forehead and nose.  The anal and genital area also swells.  During the last stages of the disease, the swellings discharge infectious fluids, with death usually following after twelve days of infection.  In Britain, the principal carrier of myxomatosis is the flea Spilopsyllus cuniculi, while in Australia it is mosquitoes.  Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), also known as viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD) or rabbit calicivirus disease in Australia, is specific to the European rabbit, and causes lesions of  hepatitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and haemorrhaging, mainly in the lungs.  Susceptible rabbits may die within 30 hours of infection.  Most rabbits in England are immune to RHD, due to exposure to a weaker strain.

 

       The European rabbit has many predators including Foxesdingoeswolveslynxeswolverines and dogs that kill both adult and young rabbits by stalking and surprising them.  However, few rabbits are usually caught as they can quickly for cover.  Further, evidence from a study in Spain suggests they may avoid areas where the recent droppings of predators indicate that they have eaten rabbit.   Both foxes and badgers will dig out kittens from shallow burrows, with the latter predators being too slow to catch adult rabbits.  Both wild and domestic cats will stalk and leap upon rabbits, particularly young ones leaving their burrows for the first time.  Wildcats take rabbits if found: in eastern Scotland, where rabbits are abundant, they can make up over 90% of the wildcats' diet.  Most domestic cats are incapable of killing healthy, full-grown adults, but will kill weak and diseased ones.  Female rabbits can be fiercely protective of their young, having been observed to chase away large cats, ferretsstoats and weasels.  However, rabbits typically run from them, and may fear them innately.  Cases are known of rabbits becoming paralysed with fear and dying when pursued by stoats or weasels, even when rescued unharmed.   It  is known that the European rabbit makes up 85% of the polecat's diet, and its availability is important to the success of breeding female mink.  Brown rats can be a serious threat to kittens, as they will reside in rabbit burrows during the summer, and attack them in groups.  Although many birds of prey are capable of killing rabbits, few are strong enough to carry them.  Large species, such as  eagles, may carry rabbits back to their nests, while small eagles, buzzards and harriers have difficulty.  Hawks and owls typically only  carry off very small kittens.

 

Biological Control

 

       Biological control attempts resulted in the importation of a myxomytosis virus, which caused high mortality among the rabbit populations.  Although considerable practical reductions of the rabbits were realized, they still continue to pose severe threats to the fragile flora of Australia and compete for the available food on the open rangeland.  Mutants of the virus that are more viral continuously appear, followed by the immediate development of resistance in the rabbit populations.

 

 

REFERENCES:                         [References may be found also at:   MELVYL Library ]

 

Pooled References   

 

Dudziński, M. L.; Mykytowycz, R.; Gambale, S.  1977.  Behavioral Characteristics of Adolescence in Young Captive European Rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus.  Aggressive Behavior. 3 (4): 313–330.

 

Ferrand,  N.  2008.  Inferring the Evolutionary History of the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from Molecular Markers. In: Alves P.C., Ferrand N., Hackländer K. (eds) Lagomorph Biology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 

 

González, Mariscal, Gabriela; Albonetti, Maria Emanuela; Cuamatzi, Evelia; Beyer, Carlos.  1997.  Transitory inhibition of scent marking by copulation in male and female rabbits.  Animal Behaviour. 53 (2): 323–333

 

Hoffman, R. S.; Smith, A. T.  2005.  Order Lagomorpha.   In:  Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.).  Johns Hopkins University Press.  pp. 205–206.

 

Daly,  J.  C.  1981.  Effects of Social Organization and Environmental Diversity on Determining the Genetic Structure of a Population of the Wild Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus.  Evolution  35 (4): 689–706/

 

Kemppainen, Jouni K.  October 2007.  Kanit keskuudessamme (The rabbits among us).  Suomen Kuvalehti (in Finnish):  76–83.

 

Lopez-Martinez, Nieves.  2008.  The Lagomorph Fossil Record and the Origin of the European Rabbit.  Springer Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. 

 

Mykytowycz, R.; Dudziński, M.  L.  1972.  Aggressive and Protective Behaviour of Adult Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) Towards Rabbits.  Behaviour  43 (1): 97–120.

 

Prada, Laura M.; Guerrero-Casado, José; Tortosa, Francisco S.  18 July 2018.  European rabbits recognise conspecifics in their predators' diets.  Acta Ethologica  21 (3): 163–168. 

 

Wozencraft, W. C.  2005.  Order Carnivora.  In:  Wilson, D.  E.; Reeder, D.  M. (eds.).  Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.).  Johns Hopkins University Press.