Characteristics of Different Rabbit Types

1 Traits and Uses

Rex rabbit: from the Cologne area, the world’s famous short-haired fur rabbit. Short even fur with no protruding guard hairs makes it beautiful — called ‘Rexrabbit’, the king of rabbits. Its fur resembles an otter’s, so in China the ‘rex rabbit’ (獭兔). Rich colors (white, blue, yellow, grey, black, brown, blue-grey, purple). Medium build, good hindquarters, small pointed head, big round eyes, long upright tail, fine curved whiskers; adult 2.5–3.5 kg, 5–7 kits. Trait: short dense soft glossy fur like sheared otter down.

Lop rabbit: origin unclear, said North Africa; French, German and English lines; China mostly keeps the French lop, called ‘ram rabbit’ for its ram-like head. A large meat-oriental breed with two long ‘八’-shaped ears hanging to the chest. Body large, short neck, wide back, thick rump; colors white/black/brown/yellow; French lop is brown-yellow, 6–8 kg (some over 10). Gentle but slow, stable genetics, but weaker adaptation, disease resistance and fertility, and poor mothering with low weaning rate despite 5–7 kits.

Japanese White: standard-fur mid-size fur-and-meat breed, pure white, red eyes, long upright ears like willow leaves; adult 4–5 kg, fast growth, strong fertility, fine pelt; long big white ears show clear vessels, so it is a common lab rabbit.

Chinchilla rabbit: from France, named for fur like the precious chinchilla; a world-famous fur-and-meat breed. Started small (standard), then American and Giant types; all share blue-grey fur, standard darker, American/Giant lighter. Advantages: fine fur, strong adaptation and fertility; weakness: slower growth.

2 Note

Four fine breeds introduced — perhaps one you like.