No less than 9 biological genera and a multitude of species and races are classified within the lovely family of long-ears mammals known as rabbits. Generally speaking, we tend to refer either to the European rabbits, or to the cottontail rabbits..

The wild rabbit is much thought after by hunters and gourmets for its tasty meat. A rabbit stew (or a paté) is an excellent country dish. But, as opposed to the human beings (blood thirsty for animal flesh) rabbits are totally harmless. They only eat vegetables: grass, fruits, roots, peels, hay...They have a very large intestine, allowing them to digest at top speed and to nibble all day long. They run at an average speed of 38 km/h. Not too bad for an animal weighting some 5 kg.

As early as 1000 after BC, rabbits are bred for meat to meet up the needs for consistent food. In the Middle-Ages, rabbit breeding starts being held for the purpose of domestication. Since then, the dwarf rabbits, the Rex, the Californian and many others, are kept indoors as pets. Children really like these little animals and feed them with carrots or salad.

Rabbits are widely represented in the popular folklore. They're associated with Easter in the English speaking countries, for they bring children chocolate eggs. In the literature and visual arts, rabbits are often personified: in Alice in Wonderland, a white rabbit with a frock coat and a huge watch symbolizes the time that goes by. In many animated series, rabbits are often clever as a monkey (like Bugs Bunny) and in the real life, they're used as a symbol of fertility. Idiomatic expressions such as “to screw like rabbits” refer to the bunny's capacity to reproduce in a flash.

Finally, in the family of crazy or loony rabbits there are Roger rabbit, but also the raving rabbids, guest stars of the Wii video game “Ryaman Raving Rabbits”. Rayman, held in hostage by loony rabbids, must entertain his captors in a series of missions in order to be set free.