Domestic rabbit in exhibit

Domestic Rabbit

Scientific Name
Oryctolagus cuniculus domestic
Class
Mammalia
Order
Lagomorpha
Range
Domesticated around the world
Habitat
n/a
Estimated Wild Population
n/a
Domestic rabbit in exhibit Endangered Status Graph - Not Listed Endangered Status Graph - Not Listed

More Information

Physical Description

Although there are dozens of domestic rabbit breeds, Flemish giant rabbits, like those living at Lincoln Park Zoo, are some of the largest. They average 15 pounds but can weigh as much as 22 pounds. They have long, powerful bodies with broad hindquarters. Males have broad, massive heads while females often have large folds of skin beneath their chins. Their glossy, dense fur can be black, blue, fawn, sandy, light gray, steel gray, or white.

Interesting Fact 1

The longest individual ever recorded totaled 51 inches, nearly the height of the average 9-year-old boy in the United States.

Interesting Fact 2

Females can have up to six liters of five to six offspring, called kittens, per year.

Animal Care staff working with seal

Commitment to Care

Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.

Learn More

Support Your Zoo

Two Chilean flamingos in exhibit

Animals Depend On People Too

When you ADOPT an animal, you support world-class animal care by helping to provide specially formulated diets, new habitat elements, and regular veterinary checkups.

Adopt an Animal

Asian small-clawed otter in exhibit

Wish List

The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.

Browse the Wish List

African penguin eating a fish

Take Action With Us

Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.

Take Action