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Dwarf rabbit refers either (formally) to a rabbit with the dwarfing gene, 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, 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.

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Small rabbits

The Netherland Dwarf is the smallest of the domestic rabbits. The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA)34 accepts a weight range of 1.1–3.5 lb (0.50–1.59 kg), but 2.5 lb (1.1 kg) is the maximum allowed by the British Rabbit Council (BRC).5 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.

One of the smallest species of wild rabbit is the Marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris), an excellent swimmer6 that weighs 2.2–2.6 lb (1.00–1.18 kg).

Smallest rabbit breeds

The following table includes rabbit breeds currently recognized by ARBA78 or by the BRC9 that have a maximum weight of 4 lb (1.8 kg). Also included is a small breed from Germany, the Teddy Dwarf.10

Domestic rabbit breeds <4 lb (1.8 kg)
Breed nameImageWeightEar type
Netherland Dwarf1.1–2.5 lb (0.50–1.13 kg)erect
Britannia Petite [US]1.5–2.5 lb (0.68–1.13 kg)erect
Teddy Dwarf  Also called:    Teddyzwerg1.75–3.75 lb (0.79–1.70 kg)erect
Dwarf Hotot2–3 lb (0.91–1.36 kg)erect
Jersey Wooly2.5–3.5 lb (1.1–1.6 kg)erect
Polish [US]2.5–3.5 lb (1.1–1.6 kg)erect
Lionhead1.36–1.7 lb (0.62–0.77 kg)erect
Miniature Lion Lop1.5–1.6 lb (0.68–0.73 kg)lop
Miniature Lop [UK/NL]3.4–3.8 lb (1.5–1.7 kg)lop
Miniature Cashmere Lop3.5 lb (1.6 kg)lop
American Fuzzy Lop3.5–4.0 lb (1.6–1.8 kg)lop
Plush Lop (Miniature)1.7–1.8 lb (0.77–0.82 kg)lop

See also

References

  1. Hu, Dou (May 2014). Identification and analysis of the dwarf mutation in domestic rabbits (Master's Thesis) [Identifiering och karaktärisering av dvärg mutationen hos tamkaninen] (PDF) (Thesis). Examensarbete. Vol. 444. Uppsala: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences - Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics. pp. 1–26. Retrieved 19 February 2018. https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/6908/11/hu_d_140622.pdf ↩

  2. Fiorello, Christine V.; German, R.Z. (February 1997). "Heterochrony within species: craniofacial growth in giant, standard, and dwarf rabbits". Evolution. 51 (1): 250–261. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1997.tb02406.x. PMID 28568789. S2CID 205780205. https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1558-5646.1997.tb02406.x ↩

  3. Standard of Perfection 2016-2020. American Rabbit Breeders Association. 2015. ASIN B018GVBJK4. /wiki/ASIN_(identifier) ↩

  4. "ARBA Recognized Breeds". American Rabbit Breeders Association. Retrieved 19 February 2018. https://arba.net/ ↩

  5. "Breed Standards 2016-2020" (PDF). British Rabbit Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180121125834/http://www.thebrc.org/Mono%20Breed%20Standards%20Book%20APRIL%202017%20small.pdf ↩

  6. Compton, Gail (29 September 2012). "Swimming Rabbit Surfaces". No. Lifestyle. The St Augustine [Florida] Record. Retrieved 22 February 2018. http://www.staugustine.com/living/garden/2012-09-28/swimming-rabbit-surfaces ↩

  7. Standard of Perfection 2016-2020. American Rabbit Breeders Association. 2015. ASIN B018GVBJK4. /wiki/ASIN_(identifier) ↩

  8. "ARBA Recognized Breeds". American Rabbit Breeders Association. Retrieved 19 February 2018. https://arba.net/ ↩

  9. "Breed Standards 2016-2020" (PDF). British Rabbit Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180121125834/http://www.thebrc.org/Mono%20Breed%20Standards%20Book%20APRIL%202017%20small.pdf ↩

  10. "Herzlich Willkommen auf den Webseiten des Teddykaninchen-Clubs". Teddykaninchen Club. Retrieved 22 February 2018. http://www.teddykaninchen-club.de/home_index.html ↩