AnAge entry for Oryctolagus cuniculus

Classification (HAGRID: 02601)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Lagomorpha
                Family: Leporidae
                    Genus: Oryctolagus
Species
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Common name
European rabbit

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

Maximum longevity
13 years (captivity)
Source
ref. 1306
Sample size
Large
Data quality
Acceptable
Observations

Although in the wild females reach full sexual maturity at the age of 2 years, in domesticated animals females can reproduce when they are only three months old. There are many anecdotes concerning the longevity of rabbits. It has been estimated that both in the wild and in captivity they rarely live more than 9 years [0434]. A rabbit in Australia called "Flopsy" reportedly lived 18.8 years in captivity after being caught in the wild [0551], but this record cannot be confirmed. Record longevity in zoos and parks is 13 years based on data retrieved from ZIMS [1306].

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity
730 days
Male sexual maturity
Gestation
30 days
Weaning
26 days
Litter size
5 (viviparous)
Litters per year
4.3
Inter-litter interval
29 days
Weight at birth
45 g
Weight at weaning
214 g
Adult weight
1,800 g
Postnatal growth rate
0.0228 days-1 (from Gompertz function)
Maximum longevity residual
84%

Metabolism

Typical body temperature
312ºK or 39.0ºC or 102.2ºF
Basal metabolic rate
7.3950 W
Body mass
2167.9 g
Metabolic rate per body mass
0.003411 W/g

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 180129
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account (if available)
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Taxonomy ID 9986
Entrez
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Ageing Literature
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Images
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Internet
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