Difference between revisions of "Rabbit Reproduction - Anatomy & Physiology"

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* [[Rabbit -Male- Anatomy & Physiology|Male]]
 
* [[Rabbit -Male- Anatomy & Physiology|Male]]
 
* [[Rabbit -Female- Anatomy & Physiology|Female]]
 
* [[Rabbit -Female- Anatomy & Physiology|Female]]
 
 
== 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.
 
* 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.
 
 
 
* [[Female_Reproductive_Tract_-The_Uterus_-_Anatomy_%26_Physiology#Anatomical_Types_of_Uteri|Bicornuate duplex uterus]].
 
** Two seperate uterine horns.
 
** No uterine body
 
** Each horn has its own [[Female_Reproductive_Tract_-The_Cervix_-_Anatomy_%26_Physiology|cervix]].
 
** Two cervices open into a single vagina.
 
* Mesometrium is a major fat storage organ.
 
 
 
* Age of sexual maturity varies with breed.
 
** Small breeds mature at ~5 months
 
** Larger breeds mature as late at as 8 months.
 
 
 
* Induced ovulator with no well-defined oestrous cycle.
 
* Periods of sexual receptivity every 4-6 days.
 
* Oestrus period lasts ~14 days.
 
* Ovulation occurs within 10 hours of coitus.
 
* Breeding season January-October in the UK.
 
 
 
* [[Reproductive_System#Gestation|Gestation]] period is 28-32 days.
 
* Pseudopregnancy may occur.
 
** Lasts 18 days.
 
 
 
* Litter size 4-12.
 
* 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.
 

Revision as of 11:56, 18 July 2008