Lionhead Rabbit: Oryctolagus cuniculus
In the Wild
Description:
 Size and Weight: Small rabbit with a fully grown weight of 2.5 to 3.5 lbs. (1.13 -1.59 kg)
 Named for their distinctive “mane” of fur around their neck, falling into a fringe around
the head, with longer fur on the chest
 Come in a variety of colors, including gray, white (with blue or red eyes), black and
brown
Habitat and Range:
 Domestic breed
o Not a wild species
o Found as a domestic pet
 Wild rabbits (like the Eastern Cottontail Rabbits, native to Maryland) prefer meadows,
brushy areas, thickets and backyards
Diet:
 Diet comprised mostly of fresh hay, fruit, vegetables and commercially available pelletstyle food
 Wild rabbits prefer vegetation, including grasses, clover, vegetable crops and
blackberries. In the winter, they will eat twigs and bark from young trees.
Adaptations:
 Have many of the adaptations of wild rabbits
o Large ears and eyes would help them detect predators in the wild
o Powerful hind legs would aid in escaping from predators
o Wild rabbits will jump sideways to break their scent trail to evade predators
Lifespan:
 Typically live 7 to 9 years
Ecosystem relationships:
 Wild rabbits serve as an important food source for a variety of predators, including
hawks, owls, foxes, weasels and coyotes
Reproduction:
 Wild rabbits such as the Eastern Cottontail, native to Maryland:
o Capable of mating at 2 months of age
o Males will mate with as many females as possible from February to September
o Females will have 3 or 4 litters each year
o Gestation period of about a month
o Average litter size is 3 to 4 rabbits
o Females often mate again right after giving birth
o Young leave the female after about 5 weeks
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Lionhead Rabbit: Oryctolagus cuniculus
Activity:
 Diurnal
 In the winter, wild rabbits will take shelter in a groundhog den, but do not dig a den
Other “fun facts”:
 Even though Lionheads are a recognized breed in England, they are not yet a recognized
breed with the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). They can be shown at
ARBA shows as an exhibition breed but cannot compete for Best In Show awards, earn
legs toward Grand Champion status or become registered with the ARBA.
 The origin of the Lionhead remains vague
o It is widely believed that they originated in Belgium in a litter of bunnies that was
the result of the crossbreeding of the Swiss Fox and a Belgian Dwarf in which a
genetic mutation produced an early version of the mane recognized in today’s'
Lionhead
o Later, the breed was imported into England where continued crossbreeding
created the current European Lionhead Rabbit
o The first Lionheads that were used as a basis for any concentrated breeding
programs in the United States were imported in 2000. These imports, along with
hybridization made throughout the United States, have produced the American
version of the Lionhead Rabbit as we know it today.
 The mane on a Lionhead is the result of a genetic mutation. Unlike most other genetic
mutations in rabbit fur types, it is a dominant gene. This means that when breeding
Lionheads, the offspring may or may not have a mane based on the genes of its parents:
o If both parents have a mane, their offspring will also have a mane
o If one parent has a mane and the other does not, the offspring will have a mane
o If neither parent has a mane, the offspring will not have a mane
Conservation Status and Threats:
 They are considered a stable domestic population. However, it is important to conserve
the habitats of wild rabbits since they are such an important food source for many other
animals.
At the Zoo


Cinnamon (male) is light-brown and black. He was born in 2012 and acquired the same
year from a breeder
Honey (female) is white with red eyes. She was also born in 2012 and acquired the same
year from a breeder
What We Can Do

Do your research before buying a pet
o Make sure you are purchasing from a reliable breeder for a healthy pet – rabbits
need to stay with their mothers until 8 weeks of age in order to develop a
healthy immune system
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Lionhead Rabbit: Oryctolagus cuniculus
o Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into – some pets require a lot
of time and money to be properly cared for
References:
 http://www.lionheadrabbit.info/history.htm
 http://www.lionhead.us/aboutlionheads/index.htm
 http://lionheadrabbit.org/
 http://www.rabbitmatters.com/lionhead-rabbit.html
 http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Habitat/WildAcres/pdfs/Habichat27.pdf
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