Any of several genera of hopping mammals of the order Lagomorpha, which together with
hares constitute the family Leporidae. Rabbits differ from hares in bearing naked, helpless young and in occupying burrows.
The Old World rabbit (
Oryctolagus cuniculus), originally from southern Europe and North Africa, has now been introduced worldwide. It is bred for meat and for its fur, which is usually treated to resemble more expensive furs. It lives in interconnected burrows called warrens, unlike cottontails (genus
Sylvilagus), of which 13 species are native to North and South America.
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