Mammal · GBIF taxon 2436940
Oryctolagus cuniculus
oryctolagus cuniculusAlso known as Coney, Wild Rabbit, European Rabbit
European rabbits construct elaborate underground burrow networks called warrens where social groups rest and raise young. Extremely adaptable herbivores, they shape grasslands through intense grazing and serve as a vital prey base for dozens of predators. While domestic descendants thrive worldwide, native wild populations face steep declines from epidemic viral diseases.
BurrowerSocialHerbivore
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Grasses
- Clover
- Plant Shoots
Predators
- Iberian Lynx
- Red Fox
- Stoat
ThreatsRabbit haemorrhagic disease, myxomatosis, habitat fragmentation, and heavy predation
HabitatsGrasslands, scrublands, pastures, open woodlands, and coastal dunes
Life span1 to 9 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLagomorpha
- FamilyLeporidae
- GenusOryctolagus
- Speciesoryctolagus cuniculus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of kicking, scratching, or biting if cornered; keep a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by compact brownish-grey bodies, pale underbellies, and short ears lacking dark tips.
- Support conservation
- Keep dogs on leashes near warrens and avoid disturbing burrow openings or nesting burrows.
Responsible observation
- Observe quietly: Approach downwind and move slowly, as sudden movements send warren colonies sprinting underground.
- Look for warrens: Scan sunny hillsides and field margins for clusters of burrow entrances surrounded by cropped grass.
- Distinguish from hares: European rabbits have shorter ears without black tips and move with a scurrying gait rather than long leaps.
Predator (c) Frank Vassen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator (c) E. A., some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by E. A. · cc-by
Predator "Red Fox" by Mike's Birds is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Jean-Jacques Boujot from Paris, France / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Keep collecting in Fauna
Continue in the app Found in Collections
Ecosystem chain Pro
Mystic Meadows
Oryctolagus cuniculus is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
Unlock to track progress
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.