The Holland Lop Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus) is a mammal in the Leporidae family of domestic lop-eared rabbits. It is a sub-species of the European Rabbit. It is a leporid mammal, or a lagomorph.
The Holland Lop Rabbit is a hybrid of the French Lop Rabbit and the Netherland Dwarf Rabbit. It is small, light, and fluffly. It has a wide range of colours, but it is mainly white, light orange, grey, brown, or dark chocolate brown. It has a white underbelly.
It is famous for its lopped, almond-shaped ears that hang limply down the side of its face, instead of standing upwards. Its legs are short with claws on its feet. It has a short tail called a scut. It has black or brown eyes. It has incisors (front teeth) as well as cheek teeth.
It grows to about 30 centimetres (12 inches) in length. Its ears measure about 12 centimetres (4-5 inches) in length.
It is common across Europe, especially the United Kingdom and The Netherlands. It prefers temperate climates and open countrysides. It is terrestrial, living on the ground and underground in burrows.
It is herbivorous, feeding on grass, weeds, and herbs, as well as twigs, bark, flower buds, and vegetables. Its incisor teeth enable it to cut grass. Its teeth grow continuously. It forages in groups, with some rabbits keeping guard in case of danger. Its predators include birds of prey, dogs, foxes, wolves, cats, and wild cats.
It is mostly nocturnal, active at night. In spring, it is active in the day time, during the breeding season.
The male is called a buck; the female is called a doe; and a young rabbit is called a kit or kitten. An adult rabbit is also called a coney.
The female gives birth in a hollow depression in the ground. She is pregnant for about 42 days, before giving birth to 2-4 live young in each litter. The kits are precocial, because they are born with fur.
The Holland Lop Rabbit lives, on average, for 2-4 years.
Location of photographs: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM