A new study on European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) supports the pursuit-deterrence hypothesis: tail-flagging signals to predators that they've been detected, reducing the chance of an attack. #rabbit #predation #ecology doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7…

USDA detects wild desert cottontail with bird flu in Maricopa County AZ after commercial egg layer HPAI outbreak. Rabbits are herbivores, likely due to environmental contamination Michel T. Kohl, PhD Dr. Miranda Crowell 🐇 House Rabbit Society World Lagomorph Society Cornell Wildlife Health Lab WDA - Wildlife Disease Association

A new study mapped the vertebral muscles of wild European rabbits and hares, revealing subtle asymmetries between the pair of species and key differences from other model mammals. These findings call for updates to current anatomical terminology. doi.org/10.1002/ar.700…

A new study explored how domestication and feralization reshape rabbit skulls. The results pinpointed that domestication softened some cranial features, while feral rabbits present an intermediate morphology between wild and domestic. #evolution #rabbits doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2…

A pilot study explored how pet rabbits behave when first introduced to a potential companion. Findings show social behaviours vary widely, highlighting the need for careful pairing. #RabbitBehavior #AnimalWelfare doi.org/10.21825/vdt.9…

A new study on New England cottontails diet showed they prefer native plants high in phenolics and ash. These results corroborate these animals are generalist herbivores, but plant defences and whether the plants are native play a role in diet selection. doi.org/10.1093/jmamma…

A new study shows wild rabbits in N. Africa are key hosts for ticks like Hyalomma lusitanicum and Rhipicephalus pusillus. Tick load peaks in spring, mirroring local abundance. Results highlight rabbits' importance in pathogen cycles. #OneHealth doi.org/10.1371/journa…

A new study focused on the recombinant myxoma virus that is killing European brown hares, causing swollen eyelids, head edema and skin lesions. The introduction likely occurred in Sept 2020 and now it’s spreading from the Germany–Netherlands border. DOI: 10.3201/eid3108.241969

CT scan data from lagomorphs show negative allometry, with smaller domestic breeds having proportionally longer tooth rows, contrasting with isometric scaling across wild lagomorph species. doi.org/10.1002/ar.700…

Two new Himalayan pikas described from China:Ochotona galugalenis and O. legbona! Genetic and morphological data plca both in Conothoa, revealing underestimated regional diversity. #pika #taxonomy doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7…

A new study reveals that mountain hares in areas with the steepest drops in snow cover over the past 60 years now suffer the worst camouflage mismatch. Their seasonal molts still lag behind current snow patterns, rooted in historical climates. doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70…

A new study reveals that plateau pika disturbance enhances soil N cycling in Qinghai-Tibet grasslands, increasing net N mineralization driven by nitrification, peaking in abandoned bare patches. Pikas ease N limitation, supporting biodiversity resilience. doi.org/10.1016/j.cate…

A new study evaluated the effect of trona on hematology, testosterone and testicular morphology of sexually mature male rabbits. The results suggest that doses ≥50 mg/kg cause weight loss and dose-dependent testicular damage. #rabbit doi.org/10.1186/s41936…

New research revealed that mature male Dutch-belted rabbits, changes in eye anatomy & fluid dynamics drive fluctuations in IOP. Early life IOP rises align with increasing episcleral venous pressure, later decreasing as fluid outflow improves with age. doi.org/10.1167/iovs.6…

A new research documents a geographical cluster of renal hamartomas in wild urban white-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus townsendii). Findings suggest a rare, localized pathology with implications for wildlife disease ecology and environmental health. #Pathology doi.org/10.1177/030098…

At Chongphadae Cave Site, Late Pleistocene small-mammal fossils reveal shifting climates. The alpine pika (Ochotona alpina), sole lagomorph in the record, appears in later layers, signaling cooler and mesic habitats. doi.org/10.1017/qua.20… 📸Svyatoslav Knyazev

A study in Portugal found a low frequence (>1%) of wild rabbits seropositive for CCHFV, with the main cluster present in the south. Rabbits may host immature Hyalomma ticks, aiding virus circulation and underscoring the need for wildlife surveillance. doi.org/10.3201/eid311…

New research on collared pikas reveals that daily maximum temperatures in both summer and winter are key to whether these cold-adapted mammals persist in Alaska’s alpine habitats. Meanwhile, larger rocks help buffer heat, offering vital refuge. doi.org/10.1080/152304…

Across 19 alpine grassland sites (2018–2023), moderate plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) activity slightly reduced ecosystem C & N, showing limited biogeochemical impact. Results support density regulation over eradication on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. doi.org/10.1016/j.gecc…