European Rabbits Are Two Species, Study Finds

Scientists from Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom determined the European rabbit consists of two distinct species that diverged nearly two million years ago. For over a century, experts believed only one rabbit species inhabited the Iberian Peninsula, possibly with regional variations. Researchers now recognize the Iberian rabbit (Oryctolagus algirus) and the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

The Iberian rabbit is native to Portugal and western Spain, while the European rabbit dominates eastern Spain and is the source of populations introduced to Europe, Oceania, and the Americas, where it often becomes invasive. The two species became isolated during glacial periods, leading to genetic and physical differences including size, fur color, and microbiome composition.

Researchers worry the Iberian rabbit population is declining while the European rabbit remains stable or grows, and current conservation efforts treat both as a single species, masking the Iberian rabbit’s decline. Recognizing them as separate species will allow for tailored conservation plans.