European rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

A species of rabbit native to the Iberian Peninsula (including Spain, Portugal, and southwestern France), western France, and the northern Atlas Mountains in northwest Africa. It has been widely introduced elsewhere, often with devastating effects on local biodiversity. Its decline in its native range due to myxomatosis, rabbit calicivirus, overhunting and habitat loss has caused the decline of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti). It is known as an invasive species because it has been introduced to countries on all continents with the exception of Antarctica, and has caused many problems within the environment and ecosystems; in particular, European rabbits in Australia have had a devastating impact, due in part to the lack of natural predators there.

Classification

  • Class

    Mammalia

  • Domain

    Eukaryota

  • Family

    Leporidae

  • Genus

    Oryctolagus

  • Kingdom

    Animalia

  • Order

    Lagomorpha

  • Phylum

    Chordata

  • Species

    O. cuniculus

Vernacular Name

European rabbit

Binomial Name

Oryctolagus cuniculus

References