You will find your curiosity peaking now and then just as you try to understand the anatomy of your pet rabbit. You will be asking questions such as: why are rabbits’ ears so long? Or say, why do rabbits have white tails?…etc. But then, it goes beyond that.
There is nothing wrong with being curious about the looks of your pet bunny. Trying to understand the basic features of your rabbit and its various functions will be beneficial to you in the long run. For one, it will help you to build a stronger rapport with your pet rabbit.
Secondly, you will learn about some of its key adaptation mechanisms, which in turn helps you to cater to it better. Thirdly, understanding the anatomy of your bunny will put you in a better position to act urgently especially in times of crisis. You may be wondering what we mean by that last part. Well, this will form part of the bane of our discussion.
In this article, we will handle the following topics as they relate to white tails in rabbits:
- Why are bunnies’ tails white?
- Which rabbits have white tails?
- What does it mean when you find a rabbit’s tail?
- Why would a long tail be an advantage for bunnies?
Continue Reading.
Why Are Bunnies Tails White?
Rabbits in the wild are quite adapted for survival. They are prey animals and they know this too well. As such, the average wild rabbit will do everything within its power to hide from predators.
One of the many ways a rabbit will conceal itself in the wild is with the help of its brown furs. Rabbit’s brown furs allow it to blend well with the surrounding bushes. Its furs act as the perfect camouflage making it very difficult for predators to spot them. This is about the only way rabbits can move about and improve their survival chances in the wild without being eaten by hungry predators.
Ironically, you may be wondering why then is it that rabbits have white tails. Isn’t the whole idea of their survival predicated on camouflage? Why is it that they possess a white tail, instead of a brown, or just generally any color that fits the color of their fur, and the surrounding environment?
Rabbit’s White Tail Camouflage
The color white is indeed more revealing than any other color especially in the wild because of its sharp contrasting feature. The reality is, white tails are indeed another survival mechanism of a wild rabbit. But then, why this particular color has become an adaptation survival mechanism of rabbits holds researchers and scientists spellbound.
One popular theory put forward by renowned University of Göttingen Evolutionary biologist, Dirk Semmann is that the white color is meant to confuse a potential predator. Now, how does this happen?
Once a predator spots the white tail of a rabbit in the wild, it makes this tail its point of focus as soon as it begins its chase. However, the rabbit does a very interesting thing. As the rabbit notices it is being chased by a predator in the wild, it flees but does so while wagging the tail vigorously from side to side.
What the rabbit is trying to do is distract the predator. Swinging its tail from side to side alters the predator’s primary focus from the white patch of the tail. The predator may then have a hard time telling the exact location of the rabbit.
The rabbit will continue to do this until it can make a sharp turn where it goes out of sight. If and when the white patch appears again in the line of sight of the predator, the rabbit may have gained some yards in distance enough to get farther away from the predator. This way, it becomes increasingly difficult for the predator to capture the rabbit.
Which Rabbits Have White Tails?
Some rabbit breeds are known for their fluffy white tails. These breeds have adapted these tails mostly for survival against predators in the wild. Whitetails have always been intriguing to humans for a host of reasons. But the one that fascinates us the most is how and why it is the color white and not some other color.
When it comes to which breeds of rabbits have white tails, we may need to consider a couple of factors. For instance, wild rabbit breeds tend to have whiter tails than their more domestic relatives. The reason for this is that domestic breeds have the leverage to adapt to more colorful variations. Wild breeds on the other hand are hard-pressed on the need for survival so they will develop a strong mechanism to make sure of that.
Growing white tails are one way they do that. They use their white tails to deceive lurking predators in the wild by wagging them from side to side. Wagging their tails confuses predators and decentralizes their line of focus.
Rabbit’s White Tail, A Warning Signal?
Here’s another line of argument for some scientists when asked why rabbits have whitetails. They believe that their whitetails are used for signaling other rabbits in the wild against predators. By wagging their tails vigorously from side to side, they send a warning signal for other rabbits to flee the scene.
This act may be detrimental to the life of the wagging rabbit in question since it may not have time to escape before it gets attacked by the predator.
The Cottontail rabbits and the white-tailed jackrabbit are among the major kinds of rabbit breeds that possess white tails. Cottontail rabbits are found in the Americas while the white-tailed jackrabbit is found in western North America.
What Does It Mean When You Find A Rabbit’s Tail?
A rabbit’s tail which is known as a scut is one of the delicate parts of its body. The tail serves different purposes to include body balancing, protection from predators, and communication with fellow rabbits. But what does it mean when you suddenly bump into a rabbit’s tail on the floor?
This phenomenon could mean a series of things. It is relatively easy for a rabbit to lose its tail given its delicate nature; nonetheless, you should not take it lightly when this happens. A rabbit losing its tail can be very dangerous since it would imply they are somewhere hurting. There is the likelihood that they are also serious bleeding.
As soon as you notice your bunny’s tail on the floor, the first thing you do is to locate the rabbit. You can then investigate the cause of the loss. This loss can be a result of one of the following scenarios:
- An accident (maybe it got caught in a trap and tried to wiggle itself free).
- There is also a high chance that it was attacked by a predator and managed to escape.
- Rabbits also bite off the tails of their fellow rabbit, especially when in a squabble.
- Humans can also cause a rabbit to lose its tail, but this most likely happens accidentally especially when the rabbit is not properly handled.
One thing that can never happen is for a rabbit to lose its tail naturally. So whenever you happen across a rabbit’s tail, you should conduct your investigation along the lines of the aforementioned possibilities.
Why Would A Long Tail Be An Advantage For Bunnies?
Bunnies have for many years intrigued many wildlife experts. The most popular instigator of such wonders is why rabbit tails are the way they are. Most rabbit tails have a different color from the rest of their furs. The reason for this is still open to debate, although it has been established on two theories that one, it is meant as a survival mechanism, and secondly, it is used as a communication tool.
Evolutionary biologist, Dick Semmann from the University of Göttingen, has postulated from his findings that tails are very unique parts of rabbits. He has published works documenting adaptation theories regarding the evolution of tails as well as their usefulness in the lives of rabbits.
Semmann has argued that the white patches on the tails are meant to confuse predators. Scientists before this time have always believed that the bright color contrast of a rabbit’s tail was integral to its mating ritual. But with Semmann’s research, it is clear that the purpose of a rabbit’s tail extends beyond that.
Going by the arguments put forward by these scientists, it can be argued in any event, that a bigger tail would be more advantageous and serve a broader purpose whether for mating, protection, or as an alert tool.