Velveteen Lop Rabbit

Scientific Name: Oryctolagus cuniculus

Order: Lagamorpha

Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares, pikas)

Conservation Status

About

Unlike popular belief, rabbits are not from the rodent family, but are from the Leporidae family. The difference between these two is that rabbits have four incisors (teeth) instead of two and they are completely herbivorous while many rodents also eat meat.

Velveteen Lops are known to be an affectionate breed and have mild temperaments. These rabbits are fairly social and calm; although, they can also be very playful at times. Velveteen Lops are a mix of the Mini Rex and English Lop breeds.

Find me at EPZ

Location: This animal is not on exhibit. It is part of our educational collection and may only be seen in programs inside or outside of the zoo.

Arrived at EPZ: Oliver - August 22, 2018- Born Apr 30, 2018

Habitat & Range
Velveteen Lops are a domesticated breed and cannot be found in the wild.
Identification
Velveteen Lops are a medium sized breed of rabbit that may grow up to 6lbs. Their coat color can vary from grey to brown. The lops standout feature is its ears, which can grow 15 inches in length.
Diet
While wild rabbits will graze on various plants, fruits, and vegetables, lops will receive a diet that mostly consist of hay in captivity. With hay they will also get a small amount of vegetables and a rabbit grain purchased from most pet stores.
Reproduction & Lifespan
Medium sized rabbit breeds become mature at 4-4.5 months of age. Females may have 12 or more young at once and gestation can last around 33 days. Young are fully weaned by 5 weeks as rabbits grow quickly. The Velveteen Lops lifespan can be up to 11 years.
Fantastic Fact
The Velveteen Lop breed was not created until 1990 when a woman named Virginia Menden crossed a Mini Rex and an English Lop. The name of this breed is based off of the famous rabbit in The Velveteen Rabbit, the children’s storybook written by Margery Williams.

Velveteen Lop Rabbit

Conservation Status

About

Find me at EPZ

Habitat & Range

Identification

Diet

Reproduction & Lifespan

Fantastic Fact