Rabbit Breeds

If you take a look at the variety of rabbit breeds, you might be amazed at the huge variety that exists among rabbits. Selective breeding of the European wild rabbit has resulted in tremendous variations of body sizes, styles, colors, and fur.

Sponsored Links


What rabbit breeds appeal to you? Big? Little? Lop-eared or straight-eared? Short-haired or wooly? Solid-colored or spotted?

• Different Types of Rabbits: Rabbits come in FOUR different types of fur...or wool.

• Lop-Eared Rabbits: FIVE rabbit breeds in the USA are lop-eared.

• All Breeds of Rabbits in USA: We’ve identified all 47 breeds of rabbits recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA).

• Body Types of Rabbits: All these breeds can be further classified into FIVE body types of rabbits.

• Meat Rabbits: We’ve also identified the breeds most frequently raised for meat.

• Angora Rabbits: Learn about, and find links to, 12 breeds of rabbits with angora wool around the world, some bigger than others.
  
  
• Pet Rabbit Breeds: Pet Rabbits can be any breed or combination that strikes your fancy. Here are some ideas you might like to consider as you decide on getting a pet rabbit.

Rabbit Breeds
Around the World

Here are those rabbit breeds by name:

Alaska ... Altex ... American ... American Sable ... Angora, Chinese

Angora, Dwarf ... Angora, English ... Angora, French ... Angora, German

Angora, Giant ... Angora, Mini English ... Argente, Bleu ... Argente, Brun

Argente, Champagne ... Argente, Clair ... Argente, Crème ... Argente, Noir

Argente, Saint Hubert ... Baladi ... Bauscat ... Beige ... Belgian Hare

Belgian Silver ... Beveren ... Blanc de Hotot ... Blanc de Popielno

Blanc de Termode ... Blanc de Vendee ... Blue of Ham ... Bourbonnais Grey

Brazilian ... Britannia Petite ... British Giant ... Brown Chestnut of Lorraine

Caldes ... Californian ... Carmagnole Grey ... Chaudry ... Checkered Giant

Chinchilla, American ... Chinchilla Giganta ... Chinchilla, Giant

Chinchilla, Standard ... Cinnamon ... Criollo ... Cuban Brown ... Czech Albin (White)

Czech Spot ... Deilenaar ... Dutch ... Dwarf Hotot ... Dwarf Papillon

Dwarf Swiss Fox ... Enderby Island ... English Spot ... Fauve de Bourgogne

Fee de Marbourg (Marburger) ... Flemish Giant ... Flemish Giant (British)

Florida White ... Furless ... Gabali ... Geant Hongrois (Hungarian Giant)

Giant Blanc du Bouscat ... Giant Papillon ... Giza White ... Goat

Golden Glavcot ... Gotland Rabbit ... Grey Pearl of Halle ... Harlequin (Japanese)

Havana ... Hermelin ... Himalayan ... Hulstlander ... Hvid Land

Ibicenco ... Isabella ... Jamora ... Japanese Giant White ... Jersey Wooly

Kabyle ... Kanel ... Klein Lotharinger ... Large Himalayan (Russe)

Large Silver ... Lilac ... Lionhead ... Little Silver ... Lop, American Fuzzy

Lop, Cashmere ... Lop, 'Dwarf of Europe' ... Lop, Dwarf ... Lop, Dwarf Rex

Lop, English ... Lop, French ... Lop, German ... Lop, Holland ... Lop, Lionhead

Lop, Meissener ... Lop, Mini ... Lop, Mini Plush ... Lop, Miniature Cashmere

Lop, Royal Satin ... Lop, Velveteen ... Lutino ... Lutterbach Ermine

Lux ... Magpie ... Marten Sable ... Mecklenburger Scheck ... Mini Satin

Moravian White ... Moravian Blue ... Netherland Dwarf ... New Zealand

New Zealand Red ... Nil ... Normand (Picard) ... Orange ... Orestad

Palomino ... Pani ... Pannon White ... Perlfee ... Petit Papillon Tricolor

Pointed Beveren ... Polish ... Polish (UK) ... Prat ... Rex, Astrex

Rex, Dwarf ... Rex, Micro ... Rex, Mini ... Rex, Mini Satin ... Rex, Opossum

Rex (Standard) ... Rex, Standard Satin ... Rhinelander ... Rhoen ... Sable

Sable de Vosges ... Sachsengold ... Sallander ... San Juan ... Satin

Satin Dwarf ... Saxon Gold ... Schwarzgrannen ... Separator ... Siamese Sable

Siberian ... Sichuan White ... Silver ... Silver Fox ... Silver Fox (UK)

Silver Marten ... Smoke Pearl ... Spanish Giant ... Squirrel ... St Nicholas Blue

Stone (Steenkonijn) ... Stor Egern ... Stora (Large) Havana ... Sussex

Swiss Fox ... Tadla ... Tan ... Tho Noi ... Thrianta ... Thuringer

Tronder ... Vienna ... Vienna White ... Vit Land ... Wheaten

White Dendermode ... Zemmouri

Additionally, we have created a rabbit breeds Table of Contents with short rabbit breed descriptions for each breed, and links to full information on many of the 175+ breeds.

This 'Table of Contents' page is a great place to start if you're interested in a particular breed of rabbit, or are doing rabbit research.

Go to Rabbit Breed Descriptions

Telling the difference between
wild rabbits, domestic rabbits and hares

The wild rabbits in the Americas are an entirely different species, and indeed, cannot interbreed with domestic rabbits, having a different chromosome count (Order Lagomorpha, Family Leporidae, Genus Sylvilagus). We call them cottontails because of the flash of white tail as they bolt away from their predators. Some species of cottontails have gray on their tails; these are often called simply brush rabbits.

You'll also find 'hares' in the Americas (Order Lagomorpha, Family Leporidae, Genus Lepus). Hares are almost comically long-legged, with ears so long you might wonder why the hares don't just topple over in a breeze. Belgian hares are reminiscent of hares in body type, but they too are domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Domestic rabbits live in burrows. Their young are born blind and furless. They require significant feeding and nurturing until they are ready to fend for themselves, usually by about 4 weeks of age in the wild.

On the other hand, hares nest in little concave hollows ('forms') in the field or brush, as do cottontails (see picture). However, baby hares are born with eyes open and fully furred. They need to be capable of fending for themselves and hiding from danger at an early age, since their nests are so exposed.

Go to Raising Rabbits Home Page