Dwarf rabbit
{{Short description|Breed of rabbit}}
Dwarf rabbit refers either (formally) to a rabbit with the dwarfing gene,{{cite thesis|last1=Hu|first1=Dou|title=Identification and analysis of the dwarf mutation in domestic rabbits (Master's Thesis)|date=May 2014|volume=444|pages=1–26|url=https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/6908/11/hu_d_140622.pdf|access-date=19 February 2018|series=Examensarbete|trans-title=Identifiering och karaktärisering av dvärg mutationen hos tamkaninen|publisher=Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences - Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics|location=Uppsala}} or (informally) to any small breed of domestic rabbit or specimen thereof, or (colloquially) to any small rabbit. Dwarfism is a genetic condition that may occur in humans and in many animals, including rabbits. True dwarfism is often associated with a cluster of physical abnormalities,{{cite journal|last1=Fiorello|first1=Christine V.|last2=German|first2=R.Z.|title=Heterochrony within species: craniofacial growth in giant, standard, and dwarf rabbits|journal=Evolution|date=February 1997|volume=51|issue=1|pages=250–261|doi=10.1111/j.1558-5646.1997.tb02406.x|pmid=28568789|s2cid=205780205|doi-access=free}} including pituitary dwarfism. The process of dwarfing is used to selectively breed for smaller stature with each generation. Small stature is a characteristic of neoteny, which may account (in part) for the attraction of dwarf animals.
Small rabbits
{{Anchor|Small domestic rabbits|reason=That is the old section name. Name was changed to "Small rabbits" on 20 February 2018}}
{{Anchor|Breeds|Reason=That is the old section name. Name was changed to "Small domestic rabbits" on 19 February 2018}}
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{{convert|375|-|500|g|lb}}}}|200px]]
The Netherland Dwarf is the smallest of the domestic rabbits. The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA){{cite book|title=Standard of Perfection 2016-2020|date=2015|publisher=American Rabbit Breeders Association|asin=B018GVBJK4}}{{cite web|title=ARBA Recognized Breeds|url=https://arba.net/|website=American Rabbit Breeders Association|access-date=19 February 2018}} accepts a weight range of {{convert|1.1|-|3.5|lb|abbr=on}}, but {{convert|2.5|lb|abbr=on}} is the maximum allowed by the British Rabbit Council (BRC).{{cite web|title=Breed Standards 2016-2020|url=http://www.thebrc.org/Mono%20Breed%20Standards%20Book%20APRIL%202017%20small.pdf|website=British Rabbit Council|access-date=29 January 2018|archive-date=21 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121125834/http://www.thebrc.org/Mono%20Breed%20Standards%20Book%20APRIL%202017%20small.pdf|url-status=dead}} The small stature of the Netherland Dwarf was initially the result of the dwarfing gene: dw. Its short neck and rounded face are additional features of neoteny.
Many small rabbit breeds have the dwarfing gene, but the Polish and the Britannia Petite are among those that do not. They have attained their small stature solely through selective breeding of successively smaller generations (a process called dwarfing).
Some small rabbits (often mixed breeds) are a false dwarf, a rabbit that did not inherit the dwarfing gene.{{cn|date=June 2025}}
One of the smallest species of wild rabbit is the Marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris), an excellent swimmer{{cite news|last1=Compton|first1=Gail|title=Swimming Rabbit Surfaces|url=http://www.staugustine.com/living/garden/2012-09-28/swimming-rabbit-surfaces|access-date=22 February 2018|issue=Lifestyle|publisher=The St Augustine [Florida] Record|date=29 September 2012}} that weighs {{convert|2.2|-|2.6|lb|abbr=on}}.
Smallest rabbit breeds
The following table includes rabbit breeds currently recognized by ARBA or by the BRC that have a maximum weight of {{convert|4|lb|abbr=on}}. Also included is a small breed from Germany, the Teddy Dwarf.{{cite web|title=Herzlich Willkommen auf den Webseiten des Teddykaninchen-Clubs|url=http://www.teddykaninchen-club.de/home_index.html|website=Teddykaninchen Club|access-date=22 February 2018}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ style="text-align: center;" | Domestic rabbit breeds <{{convert|4|lb|abbr=on}} | |||
| style="width: 160pt;" | Breed name
!class="unsortable"|Image ! style="width: 120pt;" data-sort-type="number"|Weight ! style="width: 120pt;" | Ear type | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherland Dwarf | 140px | {{convert|1.1|–|2.5|lb|abbr=on}} | erect |
| Britannia Petite [US] | 140px | {{convert|1.5|–|2.5|lb|abbr=on}} | erect |
| Teddy Dwarf Also called: Teddyzwerg | 140px | {{convert|1.75|–|3.75|lb|abbr=on}} | erect |
| Dwarf Hotot | 140px | {{convert|2|–|3|lb|abbr=on}} | erect |
| Jersey Wooly | 140px | {{convert|2.5|–|3.5|lb|abbr=on}} | erect |
| Polish [US] | 140px | {{convert|2.5|–|3.5|lb|abbr=on}} | erect |
| Lionhead | 140px | {{convert|1.36|–|1.7|lb|abbr=on}} | erect |
| Miniature Lion Lop | 140px | {{convert|1.5|–|1.6|lb|abbr=on}} | lop |
| Miniature Lop [UK/NL] | 140px | {{convert|3.4|–|3.8|lb|abbr=on}} | lop |
| Miniature Cashmere Lop | 140px | {{convert|3.5|lb|abbr=on}} | lop |
| American Fuzzy Lop | 140px | {{convert|3.5|–|4.0|lb|abbr=on}} | lop |
| Plush Lop (Miniature) | 140px | {{convert|1.7|–|1.8|lb|abbr=on}} | lop |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://rabbitbreeders.us/rabbit-breeds rabbitbreeders.us – Breeds of Rabbits Chart]
- [http://www.raising-rabbits.com/small-rabbit-breeds.html Raising-Rabbits.com – Small rabbit breeds]
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