Difference between revisions of "Rabbit Reproduction - Anatomy & Physiology"
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*** Inguinal canal remains open. | *** Inguinal canal remains open. | ||
** In the adult male they lie in two almost hairless scrotal sacs. | ** In the adult male they lie in two almost hairless scrotal sacs. | ||
| − | * Scrotal sacs are cranial to the penis. | + | * Scrotal sacs are cranial to the penis (In the majority of placental mammals they lie caudal to the penis). |
* No nipples | * No nipples | ||
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Revision as of 12:42, 17 July 2008
Male
- Male rabbit is known as the buck.
- Two testes
- Descend at ~12 weeks of age
- Inguinal canal remains open.
- In the adult male they lie in two almost hairless scrotal sacs.
- Descend at ~12 weeks of age
- Scrotal sacs are cranial to the penis (In the majority of placental mammals they lie caudal to the penis).
- No nipples
Female
- Female rabbit is known as the Doe.
- Induced ovulator with no well-defined oestrous cycle.
- Periods of sexual receptivity every 4-6 days.
- Ovulation occurs within 10 hours of coitus.
- Age of sexual maturity varies with breed.
- Small breeds mature at ~5 months
- Larger breeds mature as late at as 8 months.
- Bicornuate duplex uterus.
- Two seperate uterine horns.
- No uterine body
- Each horn has its own cervix
- Two cervices open into a single vagina.
- Mesometrium is a major fat storage organ.
- Young are altricial
- Born hairless, deaf and blind.
- Totally dependent on their mother for the first few weeks of life.
- Protected from the environment and predators by the nest which is made by the Doe using hair from the dewlap.
- If the nest is disturbed, the Doe may cannibalise the offspring.
- Doe has 4/5 pairs of nipples.