Domestic (pet) rabbits are a subspecies of European rabbits. These rabbits have been domesticated for centuries, beginning in the Middle Ages, by selective breeding. They have been kept as pets as far back as the 19th century (1).
Brain Differences
Due to generations of selective breeding for docile traits (such as tameness and tolerance of humans), the brain structures of domestic breed rabbits differ significantly from their wild cousins.
Research has found three profound differences in the brain structures of wild and domestic rabbits (2):
- Wild rabbits have a larger brain-to-body size ratio than domestic rabbits.
- Domestic rabbits have a reduced amygdala and an enlarged medial prefrontal cortex.
- These areas are involved in sensing and processing fear.
- There is a generalized reduction in white matter structure in domestic rabbits.
- White matter is involved in information processing; reduced white matter could explain why domestic breed rabbits are slower to react and are generally calmer than wild rabbits.
When a domestic breed rabbit is abandoned in the wild, it doesn’t have the quick flight responses of a wild rabbit, so they quickly get picked off by predators.
Even wild rabbits, that have the skills and abilities to survive in the wild, have a very short life span.
Found a loose domestic rabbit? Report it. They are not made for a life in the wild.
References:
(1) Irving-Pease, Evan K.; Frantz, Laurent A.F.; Sykes, Naomi; Callou, Cécile; Larson, Greger (2018). “Rabbits and the Specious Origins of Domestication”. Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 33 (3): 149–152. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2017.12.009. ISSN0169-5347. PMID29454669.
(2) Brusini et al. 2018. Changes in brain architecture are consistent with altered fear processing in domestic rabbits. PNAS. doi:10.1073/pnas.1801024115
Article written by:
Sasha is an animal welfare advocate and bunny-momma of four! She has a Bachelors of Science in Applied Biology, Honours, from the University of British Columbia. She specialized in animal biology, welfare, and conservation. When she is not doing research or working on her computer, she can be found exploring the Pacific Northwest looking for birds!
