The European rabbit is a master of survival, yet it faces a precarious future.

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Native to the Iberian Peninsula, the European rabbit has conquered every continent except Antarctica. Despite its reputation as a prolific invasive species, it is now listed as near threatened. This decline in its original home is causing a ripple effect, endangering predators like the Iberian lynx and Spanish imperial eagle.

The European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, is a social animal defined by its complex burrowing habits. Unlike hares, these rabbits are born blind and helpless, relying on warrens—intricate networks of tunnels—for protection. They live in hierarchical groups where dominant bucks and does secure the best nesting sites. Their survival strategy is built on rapid escape, supported by powerful hind limbs and a light, fragile skeleton that makes up only 8% of their body weight.

Taxonomically, the species has been a subject of debate for over a century. While researchers once identified up to six subspecies, modern genetic analysis recognizes only two: the common rabbit (O. c. cuniculus) and the Iberian rabbit (O. c. algirus). These lineages diverged roughly 2 million years ago during the Quaternary glaciation. The Iberian rabbit, found in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, is smaller than its common counterpart and displays distinct reverse sexual dimorphism, where females are larger than males.

The rabbit's impact is global, yet its status is paradoxical. Introduced to at least 800 islands and multiple continents as a food source or for sport, it has often devastated local biodiversity. However, in its native range, overhunting, habitat destruction, and diseases such as myxomatosis have caused significant population declines. Because the rabbit is a cornerstone of the Mediterranean ecosystem, its disappearance threatens the survival of specialized predators that depend on it for food, highlighting the delicate balance of its original habitat.

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