European Rabbits in GURPS

Oryctolagus cuniculus

European rabbits are native to Western France, Iberea, and the Mediteranean coast of Morocco and Algeria, and have been introduced to most of the rest of Europe, the British Isles, numerous Mediteranean inslands, Australia, Tasmania, New Zeeland, northern Chile, extreme south Argentina, Tiera Del Fuego, and the Falkland Islands. In areas where they have been introduced they are often considered pests, particularly in Australia where they displace native wildlife and compete with sheep for forage. These rabbits live in underground colonies called warrens, dug as a series of interconnected tunnels, and inhabited by 2 to 10 animals. Upon maturing, young rabbits move away from their natal warren and settle elsewhere. Territories are marked by dung piles, and strange rabbits may be driven away by violence if necessary. Within a warren there are parallel dominance hierarchies for males and females, established and maintained by aggression. Dominant males hold harems, lower status males form monogamous relations with females. Rabbits are mostly crepuscular, but may sometimes be seen out during the day or night. In the day they prefer to stay near or under cover, while at night they will venture into open areas to feed.

Rabbits which spot danger will thump their feet against the ground to warn others. Alternately, they may remain hunkered down under cover hoping to remain undetected. If flushed, they will bound away in an evasive zig-zag pattern toward a burrow or cover.

Rabbits have been domesticated for food, wool, and as pets, and many breeds covering a range of sizes, conformations, and colors now exist. The list in the main table doesn't even begin to cover the variety of breeds out there. In brief, the angoras are bred for their wool, lops have ears that flop down over the sides of their head, and giant breeds usually started out as meat animals.

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