Why Do Rabbits Have Big Ears? (Know It All)

Rabbits are small mammals found all around the globe known for their long ears. But, have you ever wondered, why do rabbits have big ears?

Rabbits are prey animals and are, therefore, faced with dangers from their predators each and every day. They use their big ears to easily identify the direction their predators could be coming from.

But is that the only reason why they have big ears? I mean even we humans have ears to detect danger but why isn’t ours that big?

In this article, we will be covering this topic in detail and providing you with all the answers to this question.

Continue reading to:

• Understand why rabbits have big ears
• Breeds of rabbits with big ears
• And so much more…

Why Do Rabbits Have Big Ears?

Rabbits have big ears to better detect predators since they are prey animals. The large ears help them detect even the slightest movement or noises from predators. Rabbits also use their big ears to help them regulate their body temperature.

Their big ears act as radiators that help release heat from their body which is super important especially during hot climates; as it provides an extra surface area for both blood vessels and sweat glands to dissipate heat from the body.

Their skin is 10 times sensitive than human’s allowing them to detect even the slightest change in air current allowing them to regulate their body temperature. This helps keep them cool during hot weather and warm during cold weather by allowing them to adjust their body temperature.

Let’s look at some key benefits in much more detail why rabbits have large ears.

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Benefits of Rabbits Big Ears

Let’s look at some of the benefits those big ears bring to our bun friends. It’s, therefore, crucial to ensure that their big ears are well taken care of.

Let’s get straight to it.

1 – Keep Them Alert & Safe

Rabbits have a panoramic field of vision which means they see predators from almost all angles. They, however, have two blind spots, in front of their eyes and behind their ears. And this is where their big ears come in handy. To learn more about their vision check out this article.

To keep themselves safe, they use their large ears to stay alert and be in a position to identify predators miles away. They are able to rotate their ears and pinpoint the exact direction the predator noises could be coming from.

This keeps them alert and well aware of their environment.

2 – Regulate Body Temperature

Rabbit’s large ears allow for extra blood vessels and sweat glands to be exposed to more air current allowing them to regulate their body temperatures.

Their large ears help to keep them cool during hot climates and help them retain more heat during the cold season. This is thanks to their sensitive skin allowing them to regulate their body temperature accordingly.

During thermoregulation, the blood vessels in their ears swell as much as possible during hot temperatures, to expel all the excess heat and contract during the cold season to ensure no heats escapes the rabbit’s body.

There are certain breeds of rabbits that are famous for their large ears. In this next section, we will look into some of the rabbit breeds with the largest ears.

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What Breed of Rabbits Have the Biggest Ears?

When it comes to selecting the right breed to keep as a pet, most pet owners will look at a number of things to consider before making their choice. This could range from the breed, their shading habits, or even the size of their ears.

Looped ear rabbit refers to a breed of rabbit that has large ears that have dropped instead of being erect.

Below are some rabbit breed known for their large ears, they include:

• Dutch Rabbit: They have big ears that can be seen from a distance and are known for their floppy ear share and soft velvety texture. They are also known for their bright colors and long hairs on their fur, leading to them also being known as fancy rabbits.
• Angora Rabbits: They have the longest ears compared to all the other breeds with a single ear measuring up to 10 inches long.
• Mountain Cottontail: This breed also has one of the biggest ears compared to other breeds.

These are just a few examples of rabbit breeds that are known for their long ears and if that’s a factor to consider when looking for a new pet rabbit.

The best time to tell rabbits apart from other breeds is by their ears, as they vary greatly in size and shape. Those breeds with bigger ears tend to be more docile and less active than those with smaller ears.

If you own one of these breeds among others that do have large, big ears – cleaning and keeping these sections of their body is very important. Remember to be gentle as this is a very sensitive area. Use of a soft cotton cloth and a rabbit-friendly grooming kit to clean this area is recommended.

Look out for ear mites, ticks, dirt, or skin problems under your rabbit’s ear. In case of anything severe, feel free to have him checked by your local vet.

Never bathe rabbits as they tend to freak out while in the water. They are known to be self-grooming pets and tend to do an obviously great job apart from cleaning hidden areas such as their ears.

Their cage should also be kept clean always to prevent any further ear infection or potential environment for them to get dirt to their ears.

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Conclusion

Rabbit’s long and large ears primarily serve two main purposes. To detect predators that are far away from them as well as utilize them to regulate their body temperature.

Remember to always monitor their big ears and ensure they are well taken care of and always kept clean.