When you think of rabbits, cute pictures of cuddly little animals that love to nibble on carrots probably come to mind. But there's a lot more to these little balls of fur than you might think. Here are 10 amazing facts about rabbits that you probably don't know.

1. the extraordinary reproduction

Let's start with a surprising fact: female rabbits can become pregnant again just one day after giving birth to their young! This is because they have the ability to ovulate their eggs as soon as they have mated, rather than on a fixed cycle.

On average, a rabbit gives birth to 4 to 12 young. Surprisingly, the little ones are completely naked and blind at birth. Only after a week they open their eyes and develop their fur. Another interesting point is that the mother comes only once a day to suckle the young.

2. a paradise for vegetarians

Rabbits are known to love carrots, right? Well, the reality is a little different. In fact, carrots are not the best choice for rabbits' diets because of their high sugar content. Fresh hay, dark leafy vegetables and herbs are ideal.

Despite the many green treats rabbits eat every day, they excrete some of the food undigested. They eat these small, soft globules, called appendix droppings, again to fully utilize the nutrients they contain. Yes, rabbits practice what is called caecotrophy!

3. speed fanatic with special skills

Rabbits can run up to 60 km/h fast. That's faster than most pets and even faster than some wild animals! But why are they so fast? This impressive speed is a survival mechanism that allows them to escape predators.

Not only their speed is remarkable, but also their agility. Rabbits can make abrupt changes of direction and jump up to 1 meter high at full run. These excellent escape skills are what make the rabbit a tenacious survivor in the wild.

4. giant ears with special function

It's hard to ignore rabbit ears. They are not only cute, but also have an important function. Rabbits can turn their ears independently to pick up sounds from all directions. But that's not all. The large ears also serve to regulate temperature. They allow the animals to release excess heat in hot weather and thus regulate their body temperature.

5. tooth file necessary

Another interesting fact about rabbits is that their teeth grow back throughout their lives. Much like nails in us humans, rabbits' teeth need to be worn down by constant chewing. Without this wear, the teeth would just keep growing, which can lead to serious health problems. That's why it's so important that rabbits get enough opportunities to chew, for example in the form of hay or special toys.

6. a unique communication system

Rabbits have an impressive range of communication tools. They express their feelings not only through posture and movement, but also through a variety of sounds. Growling, humming, whistling and even a soft click are just some of the sounds rabbits can make.

The "stomping" gesture is also a clear communication signal. When a rabbit stomps on the ground with its hind paws, it means that it feels threatened and wants to warn its conspecifics. And when your rabbit rolls onto its back and stretches its legs in the air, it is a sign of complete well-being and relaxation. It's called "flopping" and it's the ultimate sign of confidence and contentment.

7. rabbits are not equal to rabbits

Although they are often confused with each other, they are Rabbits and hares not close relatives. Although they both belong to the order of hares, there are important differences between them. Rabbits are usually smaller, have shorter legs and smaller ears than hares. Behavior also differs: while rabbits are more social animals that live in colonies, hares are more solitary.

Newborn rabbits are born naked and blind, while baby rabbits already have fur and can see at birth. Baby rabbits are nest fledglings, which means they are very mobile and independent shortly after birth, while baby rabbits are completely dependent on their mother for the first few weeks of life.

8. rabbits as symbols of luck

In many cultures around the world, rabbits are considered symbols of good luck. The best-known example of this is the lucky charm "rabbit in the crescent moon", which has its origins in Germanic mythology. Here the rabbit stands for fertility and rebirth and is closely associated with the moon goddess. Therefore, he is celebrated especially at Easter as a symbol of new beginnings.

In Asian culture, the rabbit is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac and is associated there with longevity and good luck. In North American Native culture, the rabbit represents creativity and abundance.

9. rabbits in space travel

Did you know that rabbits have made an important contribution to space travel? In fact, rabbits were sent into space as early as the 1950s by the French to study the effects of weightlessness on living things. Although this may sound surprising, these experiments have provided important insights for human spaceflight.

10. rabbits can become gigantic

While most rabbit breeds are of medium size, there are also real giants among them. The largest rabbit breed is the German Giant Rabbit, which can weigh up to 12 kilograms! Its body length is up to 75 cm, which makes it bigger than many a small dog. Interestingly, German Giants were originally bred not for their cuddle factor, but for their meat and fur.

Another remarkably large rabbit is the Flemish Giant Rabbit. It's a bit smaller than the German Giant Rabbit, but it can still weigh in at an impressive 8 kilograms. And despite their size, both giant breeds are known to be very gentle and people-oriented.

Rabbits are not only for cuddling

There is no denying that rabbits are cute. But as you can see, there is much more to know about them. They are interesting and complex creatures with remarkable abilities and quirks. Whether they are survivalists in the wild, symbolic lucky animals, or research subjects in space travel, rabbits are truly fascinating.

So much for the 10 facts about rabbits that you probably didn't know. Of course, there is much more to discover. Who knows, maybe now you feel like diving even deeper into the world of rabbits!