Standard Rex rabbit
Encyclopedia
The Rex Rabbit is a breed of rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...

 developed in France in 1919. Their unique, dense, plush, velvet-like fur, was caused by a mutation seen in wild rabbits in France in the late 19th century. The Rex mutation is recessive and causes the hair to protrude outwards from the body, instead of lying flat, and the guard hairs to be shortened to the length of the undercoat. After development of the Mini Rex, some people began to refer to the Rex rabbit as the standard Rex rabbit. The official breed name used by ARBA and BSR is the Rex rabbit.

The Rex Rabbit can be housed outdoors year-round in warmer climates as well as in cooler climates if the correct accommodations are made. It can be fed a combination of commercial rabbit pellets and timothy hay
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...

. Additionally, the Rex tends to be a hardy breed with few health issues.

History and origin

The Rex is a variety of rabbit recognized by its plush fur that is often described as having a velvety texture. The breed originated in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 in 1919 as the result of a recessive genetic mutation leading to guard hairs that are no longer than the undercoat. This first appeared in a litter
Litter
Litter consists of waste products such as containers, papers, wrappers or faeces which have been disposed of without consent. Litter can also be used as a verb...

 of wild gray rabbits. The Rex Rabbit was first shown publicly at the Paris International Rabbit Show in 1924 and has been recognized as a standard breed in parts of Europe since 1925. The Rex was first imported to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 in 1924 following the Paris International Rabbit Show and has since become one of the most popular domestic rabbit breeds. The rex mutation is also found in cats and rats, but rex cats are usually almost completely bald whereas rex rabbits have a significantly thicker coat.

Modern development

Currently, Rex Rabbits are kept as pets, as show rabbits, and for fur and meat production. The two most popular rabbits for fur production are the Rex and the American Chinchilla.

Appearance

The fur of the Rex Rabbit should be between 1/2 and 7/8 an inch in length (1.3-2.2 centimeters) and have a dense and plush texture that is often described as “velvety.” The fur is often very dense and plush because of its short guard hairs and stands almost perpendicular to the skin. The rex mutation also causes the fur to curl in certain areas, but this curling is rarely visible with the exception of areas where the fur is longer, such as behind the ears. Additionally. the mutation causes the whiskers to shorten and curl or not appear. The Rex is a medium sized rabbit with a commercial, round body and an ideal weight range of 7.5-10.5 pounds
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...

 (3.4-4.76 kilograms), although females can weigh as much as 10.5 pounds. The Rex has a slightly broader head than other breeds of rabbit, proportionate and upright ears as well as toe nails that match the color of its fur on proportionally smaller feet. As with most larger breeds, the female (doe) has a dewlap
Dewlap
A dewlap is a longitudinal flap of skin that hangs beneath the lower jaw or neck of many vertebrates. While the term is usually used in this specific context, it can also be used to include other structures occurring in the same body area with a similar aspect, such as those caused by a double...

, a large flap of skin under the chin.

Temperament

Burke's Backyard
Burke's Backyard
Burke's Backyard is an Australian gardening and lifestyle program, broadcast on both radio and television. On television, it was a regular weekly series on the Nine Network from 1987 to 2004.- History :...

 notes that rex rabbits are claimed to be one of the most intelligent breeds of rabbits. The Rex Rabbit is often used as a foster mother and it is possible, as well, to keep pairs of these rabbits housed together. This breed has a low to moderate activity level and can jump as high as 3 feet. Like most rabbits, the Rex is most active in the evening and early morning hours and prefers to rest during the day. Due to its playful, intelligent and relaxed nature, this breed is often described as being "cat-like".

Rex Rabbits can easily be litter trained, but owners should not use clay or cedar-based litters as they are a health hazard to the animal. A rex rabbit can also be trained to do a variety of other tricks, such as coming when called and standing on command. However, rabbits often do not feel the need to perform without adequate motivation, such as a favorite treat. The Rex is recognized as one of the gentler breeds of rabbits and an excellent choice for families with children, so long as the children are educated on proper handling.

Varieties

The Rex is available in many different colors: Amber, Black, Blue, Broken varieties, Californian, Castor, Chinchilla, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Dalmatian (broken black), Ermine or pure white, Fawn, Harlequin, Havana, Lilac, Lynx, Marten Sable, Marten Seal, Opal, Orange, Otter, Red, Sable, Seal, Satin fur varieties, Siamese Sable, Siamese Seal, Silver Seal, Smoke pearl-Marten, Smoke pearl-Siamese and Tortoiseshell.

In addition, Rex Rabbits have been bred to have the trait of albinism or the trait of red eyes instead of their otherwise brown or blue-gray eyes. In the United States, the ARBA
ARBA
ARBA can refer to:* Ariba , an American software and information technology services company*American Rabbit Breeders' Association*American Rare Breed Association, an American kennel club...

 officially recognizes 16 of the above colors and varieties: Black, Blue, Broken, Californian, Castor, Chinchilla, Chocolate, Lilac, Lynx, Opal, Otters (Black, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac), Red, Sable, Seal and Ruby Eyed White.

Feeding and housing

The Rex Rabbit can be housed outdoors year-round in warmer climates as well as in cooler climates if the correct accommodations are made. Generally, Rex Rabbits are better accustomed to living in the cold than the heat, but they cannot tolerate extremes of either kind. For rabbits kept outdoors in colder environments, it is necessary to provide a shelter from wind and drafts. Many outdoor rabbits live in barns or covered hutches in the winter.

A second option is to house the Rex Rabbit indoors, which is recommended in some climates. The Rex can be litter box trained and does very well as a house rabbit
House rabbit
A house rabbit is a pet domestic rabbit kept for companionship that lives inside its owner's home. House rabbits can be trained to use a litter box, and can live as long as 8-10 years when properly cared for....

. Rex rabbits with thin foot fur and housed in wire cages should be provided with some type of wooden flooring or a mat to prevent the development of sore hocks on their feet.

The Rex Rabbit can be fed a combination of commercial rabbit pellets and timothy hay. Rabbit pellets should not contain seeds or corn and should be high in fiber, low in fat and carbohydrates and moderate in protein.

Health

The Rex tends to be a hardy breed with few health issues. Some lines of Rex are prone to sore hock. Feed with an excessively high protein percentage can result in persistent molting.

See also

  • Domestic rabbit
    Domestic rabbit
    A domestic rabbit, or more commonly known as simply the rabbit, is any of the several varieties of European rabbit that have been domesticated....

  • List of rabbit breeds
  • Mini Rex
    Mini Rex
    Mini Rex were derived from the Rex rabbit. Their unique, dense, plush, velvet-like fur, was caused by a mutation seen in wild rabbits in France in the late 19th century...

  • House rabbit
    House rabbit
    A house rabbit is a pet domestic rabbit kept for companionship that lives inside its owner's home. House rabbits can be trained to use a litter box, and can live as long as 8-10 years when properly cared for....

  • Rabbit Hair
    Rabbit hair
    Rabbit hair is the fur of the common rabbit. It is most commonly used in the making of fur hats and coats, and is considered quite valuable....

  • List of types of fur
  • Fur farming
    Fur farming
    Fur farming is the practice of breeding or raising certain types of animals for their fur.Fur used from wild caught animals is not farmed, and is instead known as 'free range fur' because the animals have lived their lives free and natural in the wild....

  • British Rabbit Council
    British Rabbit Council
    The British Rabbit Council is a showing organisation for rabbit lovers all over the UK. The rabbit is Britain's third most popular pet.-Structure:...

  • American Rabbit Breeders' Association
    American Rabbit Breeders' Association
    The American Rabbit Breeders Association is a national club for domestic rabbit and cavy breeders. The ARBA is headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois in the United States...


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK