Rabbits vs. Rodents: Understanding the Differences
Introduction
Rabbits are incredibly adorable, which is an attribute that no one can refute. However, not a lot of people are able to identify which part of the family they belong to. Due to a slight resemblance, there is a prevailing confusion among most people that rabbits could possibly be a part of the rodent family.
Are Rabbits Rodents?
The short and quick answer to this question is no, rabbits are not rodents. The prevailing assumption that rabbits are rodents is nothing but a misconception that most don’t tend to question. So, if rabbits aren’t a part of the rodent family, then which animal family are they a part of? Rabbits are known to be a part of the Leporidae family, particularly known as lagomorphs.
History of the Misconception
So what led to this misconception? Well, part of the blame can be put on history itself. Until the 20th century, lagomorphs, which also include rabbits, were classified as Rodentia, better known as rodents. However, as we get deeper into the features between rodents and lagomorphs, you will start understanding how exactly rabbits are not rodents.
Differences Between Rabbits and Rodents
Digestive Systems
Rabbits and rodents eat a lot of the same food, which includes plant matter. However, the difference in their dietary habits comes in when considering that rabbits are herbivores, whereas rodents can eat other items as well, such as nuts, seeds, grains, and roots. This means that the digestive system of rabbits is quite different from the digestive system of rodents.
Rabbits are known to break their food down just like hooved mammals do. This is because within their guts is the cecum, which directly translates to the blind pouch. The cecum is located on top of the large intestine, which has bacteria that serve the purpose of fermenting and breaking down the cellulose within plants that is difficult to eat. This is why rabbits are able to digest and easily eat plants just as obligate herbivores do. Their digestive system allows them to maximize the nutrients that they absorb from their food, which is made possible due to the concept that rabbits eat their food twice.
It is important to note that rabbits aren’t the only animals with a cecum. In fact, some rodents also have a cecum within their gut. This is why rodents can eat plant matter. However, not all rodents have a cecum, which is why rodents are able to eat other items such as seeds and nuts. You can also read what should rabbit eat.
Teeth
The similarities between the teeth of rabbits and rodents are the primary reason behind the prevailing misconception that rabbits are rodents. Rabbit teeth are in a way different and similar to rodent teeth. The similarity lies within the incisors, where both rabbits and rodents have incisors that grow indeterminately. They also have enamel on top and dentin at the back of their incisors.
However, unlike the rodent, the front teeth that are the incisors of the rabbit are white instead of being yellow or even orange. That is not all; rabbits are also known to have two sets of incisors at the top instead of having just one set. Their second set of incisors is one-fourth of the size of their first set. This set also lies behind the first set of top incisors. It is due to these two sets of top incisors that rabbits are able to chew through plants and vegetation without much difficulty. Unlike rabbits, rodents do not have four incisors as they have no need for them. Apart from that, their incisors are never white; instead, they have a much more orange tinge.
Reproductive Organs
This difference applies to male rodents and rabbits. Both male rodents and male rabbits do not possess a single scrotal sack and instead have two discrete sacks. The difference between the reproductive organs can be factored in when we take the baculum into account. While rodents have a baculum, all lagomorphs, which include rabbits, do not possess a baculum.
Caring for Rabbits
It is due to these integral differences and misalignment of the characteristics of rabbits that in the 20th century, rabbits were no longer classified as rodents. It is also due to these differences that the caring process of a rabbit is different from the caring process of a rodent. When it comes to taking care of a rabbit, particularly indoors, it is important for you to take a series of steps to ensure that you are providing your rabbit with the best care possible. You can also read how to help your bunny to live longer.
Cage or No Cage
You must first figure out whether your rabbit will be allowed to freely roam within the house or whether it will be kept within a large cage. If you plan to take the cage route, it is vital that you get a cage that is large enough so that your rabbit is able to jump around. It should also be let outside the cage for a few hours to provide them with ample exercise. The primary method of keeping your rabbit, which includes the location where it will be held, should not involve isolation. This isolation includes isolation from your family or you, so a good place to keep the rabbit’s cage would be a communal space such as the living room. You can also read how to care for a pet rabbit indoor.
Bunny Proofing
Your rabbit should be given enough space to explore and hop around. This is why, when indoors, it is important for you to bunny-proof your house or at least the space it will have access to when outside of its cage. This way, you will be able to protect your rabbit and your belongings from your rabbit. To bunny-proof the space, you will need to cover the wires using flex tubes or plastic sleeves. They should also be kept at least three to four feet away from the reach of the rabbit. You will also need to block the undersides of certain furniture items such as your couch and bed. You can also read my another article how to bunny proof your home.
Diet
As mentioned before, a rabbit, unlike rodents, is an obligate herbivore, which is why the integral component of its diet would be fresh hay. Your rabbit should have fresh hay available to them at all times. The type of hay differs according to the rabbit’s age, where alfalfa should be given to a baby rabbit. However, adult rabbits can easily eat oat hay, grass hay, and even timothy hay. You can also read how to take daily care of your rabbit.
Litter Box
The way cats possess a natural inclination to defecate within the same area, rabbits possess the same inclination as well. To set up a litter box for your rabbit, you can use a cat litter box that is medium-sized or a storage bin that is a bit shallow in depth. This can then be placed in close vicinity to the rabbit’s hay feeder or water bowl. Within the litter box, you should place newspaper pellet litter, which is recycled and safe for rabbits to use. Be sure to avoid using cat litter which clumps or wood shavings, as these types of litter are not safe for a rabbit to use. You can also read how to poty train your rabbit.
Grooming
Rabbits are considered one of the animals that like to groom themselves frequently, so it is important to groom them regularly. A rabbit is known to have multiple shedding cycles within a single year, so to make sure that your rabbit stays clean and your furniture stays free from fur, it is important that you groom your rabbit by brushing it. This way, you will be able to get rid of any excess stray fur that will eventually fall off of your rabbit. If you do not groom your rabbit regularly, your rabbit could end up ingesting its fur, which could be detrimental to its digestive system. Apart from brushing its fur, you should also regularly trim the nails of your rabbit. This will prevent your rabbit’s nails from snagging on fabric.
Provide a Stimulating Environment
When keeping a rabbit as a pet, an important aspect to take into account is that rabbits tend to get bored quite easily. This is why they need to be kept in an environment that is stimulating both physically and mentally. A great way to provide them with a stimulating environment is to place cardboard castles close to them. You will catch your rabbit spending hours inside the cardboard castle. It is also something that your rabbit can chew on and take refuge in.
Provide Physical Stimulation
While rabbits require entertainment, the only stimulation you need to provide for rodents is something that they can chew and gnaw on. This is due to the fact that the incisors of rodents grow perpetually, so you can provide them with chew sticks, bark, or even branches from fruit trees.
Conclusion
All in all, on a surface level, rabbits can most definitely seem like rodents and, up until the 20th century, were considered Rodentia. However, once you get into the nitty-gritty aspects such as their anatomy, you will understand that rabbits are not rodents.
That’s all for today’s article. Hope you now understand the difference between rodents and rabbits. If you found this article helpful share it with your friends. If you want article any particular topic let me know in the comments bellow.