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European Hard Backed Rabbit

The Hard Backed European Rabbit or Hard Backed Common Rabbit (Ferreus socero oryctolagus cuniculus) is a species of rabbit native to Southwestern Europe. Alike the other species in it's family, it has been widely introduced elsewhere with a devastating effect on local biodiversity. Due to its protective back, it has caused a decline in its highly dependent predators because of its survivability. It is known as an invasive species because it has been introduced to countries on all continents with the exception of Antartica, and has caused many problems within the environment and ecosystems.

The Hard Backed European Rabbit is known for digging burrows where it spends most of its time when not feeding. Unalike hares, rabbits are born blind and fur less and are completely dependent on their mother. This species of rabbit hasn't been researched thoroughly, unalike it's brother the European rabbit, and not a lot is known about this species.

Physical description

A diagram of the features of the Hard Backed European Rabbit

The Hard Backed European Rabbit is a smallish, grey-brown (or sometimes black) mammal. It has four sharp incisors(two on top, two on bottom) that grow throughout its life, and two peg teeth on the bottom behind the incisors, dissimilar to rodents. The Hard Backed European Rabbit has long ears, large hing legs, short, fluffy tails, and unalike other rabbits it has an enlarged vertebrae. This vertebrae helps protect the rabbit, along with its long ears which help with detecting prey, the vertebrae helps the rabbit survive if attacked.

Etymology

The scientific name for the Hard Backed European Rabbit is Ferreus socero oryctolagus cuniculus. Ferreus socero, or hard backed is included because of its enlarged, and hardened vertebrae which protects it. And oryctolagus cuniculus is the scientific name for the European rabbit or the common rabbit.

Population

Most of these rabbits live on the continent of Europe, but have been introduced onto other continents recently.

Familial Structure

The familial structure of the rabbit is in a star formation. Usually in a ecosystem there are three or more groups, within those groups a leader. And outside of these groups are wandering rabbits called wandering groupies.

Food Web

Rabbits are herbivores, which means it is located lower in the food chain. They are normally hunted by predators like Foxes, or Hawks and Owls. But because of the increased survivability of the species, there has been a decrease in its predators observed.

Impact on earth

Since the Hard Backed European Rabbits are able to get devoured less there able to survive longer and reproduce. The effect of these rabbits will be the same as when rabbits were first introduced into Australia, due to having few predators and how quickly they spread. Due to this they will soon overrun most ecosystems and will devour much of the smaller vegetation.