5 Facts about Rabbits from Smithsonian: Giant Rabbits
In celebration of the annual spring appearance of the Easter bunny on Sunday, Smithsonian Science offers these facts from Rabbits: The Animal Answer Guide, a new book by John Seidensticker, conservation scientist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and Susan Lumpkin, freelance writer.
Image: Black-tailed jackrabbit (Photo by Susan E. Adams)
1
Rabbits are not rodents, but lagomorphs (lag–uh-mawrf), a scientific term which means “hare-shaped.” Hares and pikas also are lagomorphs.
2
Image: A reconstruction of a giant Minorcan rabbit is shown next to a modern European rabbit. (Image by Meike Köhler)
Scientists studying the bones of an extinct giant rabbit found on the Mediterranean island of Minorca estimate this prehistoric animal weighed as much as 31 pounds! The largest rabbits alive today– domestic breeds such as the Flemish giant–weigh 22 pounds at most.
3
Thanks to human introductions the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is found throughout Western Europe, Australia, parts of South America, North Africa and on more than 800 islands around the world. Today in Iberia, Spain, the European rabbit’s sole home for many thousands of years, it is threatened.
4
Archaeologists have evidence of people hunting rabbits in the south of France some 120,000 years ago. Scientists suspect even Neanderthals lived on diets made up largely of rabbits
5
A “never fail” Kansas folk remedy for reducing fever recommends making a strong tea from the dung of the wild jackrabbit and drinking it every half-hour.
(via: Smithsonian Insider)
Wishing sunshine to all who celebrate spring, whatever you call it (Purim, Easter, Earth Day…)
Your friends at DogDaz Zoo.
DogDaz Zoo 
speedyrabbit
March 27, 2016 at 02:16
Rabbit poo tea Huh interesting….would you try it?Happy Easter to you all,xx Rachel and SPeedy
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dogdaz
March 27, 2016 at 08:07
No thanks on the tea.
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easyweimaraner
March 27, 2016 at 03:17
thanks for the information :o) I bet I’m an offspring of that neander valley dogs :o) Happy Easter to you!
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dogdaz
March 27, 2016 at 08:08
Possible.
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Genevieve Petrillo
March 27, 2016 at 06:39
I’ll take a pass on the bunny-poop-tea. No thank you. I prefer goose poop…..
Love and licks and happy Easter,
Cupcake
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dogdaz
March 27, 2016 at 08:08
To roll in.
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Christine
March 27, 2016 at 07:04
Dung tea no thank you
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dogdaz
March 27, 2016 at 08:08
Hahaha
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Groovy Goldendoodles
April 4, 2016 at 16:37
Thanks, I learned something new today!
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dogdaz
April 4, 2016 at 20:31
Always happy to edogacate
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