The term rex rabbit (without capitalization) refers informally to one of at least eight breeds of

domestic rabbit The domestic rabbit (''Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus'') is the domestication, domesticated form of the European rabbit, a member of the lagomorph order. A male rabbit is known as a ''buck,'' a female as a ''doe,'' and a young rabbit as a ''k ...

. One such breed is the ''Rex,'' which is recognized by the

American Rabbit Breeders Association The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) is a national club for domestic rabbits and cavy breeders. The ARBA is headquartered in Knox, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Its membership is composed of rabbit and cavy exhibitors, commer ...

(ARBA) and by the

British Rabbit Council The British Rabbit Council (BRC) is an organisation for rabbit enthusiasts in the United Kingdom. Rabbits are the UK's third most popular pet. History The British Rabbit Council was formed in 1934 when the British Rabbit Society and the National ...

(BRC). Other modern-day rex rabbit breeds are listed below. Care must be taken to distinguish the rex rabbit breeds from the three types of rex

rabbit fur Rabbit hair (also called rabbit fur, cony, coney, comb or lapin) is the fur of the common rabbit. It is most commonly used in the making of fur hats and coats, and is considered quite valuable today, although it was once a lower-priced commodit ...

for which they are known. The ''Rex'' rabbit breed that is recognized by ARBA is a medium-sized rabbit with a commercial, round body and an ideal weight range of . The Rex has a slightly broader head than other breeds of rabbit, proportionate upright ears, and proportionally smaller feet. As with most larger breeds, the female (or ''doe'') has a

dewlap A dewlap is a longitudinal flap of skin or similar flesh that hangs beneath the lower jaw or neck of many vertebrates. More loosely, it can be various similar structures in the neck area, such as those caused by a double chin or the submandibula ...

(a large flap of skin under the chin).

History and origin

The Rex is a variety of rabbit that exhibits plush fur that is often described as having a velvety texture. The breed originated in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

in 1919. Its origin was a

litter Litter consists of waste products that have been discarded incorrectly, without consent, at an unsuitable location. The waste is objects, often man-made, such as aluminum cans, paper cups, food wrappers, cardboard boxes or plastic bottles, but ...

of wild gray rabbitsRuben, Dr. Dawn. "Choosing a Rex Rabbit." PetPlace.com. 2009. and has been developed over the years by fanciers and the fur industry. The Rex Rabbit was first shown publicly at the Paris International Rabbit Show in 1924 and has been recognized as a standard breed in parts of Europe since 1925. Eugène Kohler at the

University of Strasbourg The University of Strasbourg (, Unistra) is a public research university located in Strasbourg, France, with over 52,000 students and 3,300 researchers. Founded in the 16th century by Johannes Sturm, it was a center of intellectual life during ...

developed the breed further, giving rise to colored varieties and the chinchilla rex, which is one of the main breeds used in the rabbit fur farming industry. The Rex was first imported to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

in 1924 following the Paris International Rabbit Show by American rabbit pioneer John C. Fehr and his partner Alfred Zimmerman.

Genetics

Many genes contribute to the Standard Rex breed. The definition of the breed is maintained by ARBA and the

(BRC). The definition is based strictly on phenotype. The gross external features used to identify the rabbit include weight, coloration, coat texture and length. Of these features, amongst fanciers and the fur industry, the coat properties are of chief concern. This breed has a low to moderate activity level and can jump as high as three feet.

Fur

The word ''rex'' (with a lowercase 'r') refers to the unique characteristics of an animal's "rexed"

fur A fur is a soft, thick growth of hair that covers the skin of almost all mammals. It consists of a combination of oily guard hair on top and thick underfur beneath. The guard hair keeps moisture from reaching the skin; the underfur acts as an ...

. It is the result of a specific genetic mutation that is now deliberately sought in the Rex rabbit breeds. In rex fur, the hair protrudes outwards from the body, instead of lying flat, and the

guard hair Guard hair or overhair is the outer layer of hair of most mammals, which overlay the fur. Guard hairs are long and coarse and protect the rest of the pelage (fur) from abrasion and frequently from moisture. They are visible on the surface of the ...

s are shortened to the length of the undercoat, or a bit longer. Because of the density of hairs, rex fur is often described as '' plush'' or ''

velvet Velvet is a type of woven fabric with a dense, even pile (textile), pile that gives it a distinctive soft feel. Historically, velvet was typically made from silk. Modern velvet can be made from silk, linen, cotton, wool, synthetic fibers, silk ...

y.'' Three varieties of rex fur now exist: standard rex fur, short curly rex fur (as in the Astrex), and long curly rex fur (as in the Opossum). Coconut the rabbit 07

Varieties

ARBA currently recognizes 16 color varieties for the Rex rabbit breed, while the BRC currently recognizes 32. There are clubs for fanciers of particular rabbits and the Standard Rex is no exception.

Modern development

Currently, Rex Rabbits are kept as pets, as show rabbits, and for fur and meat production. The Rex remains the number one breed used in fur production for garments and toys as their fur lacks protruding guard hairs which in other breeds which must be shorn and plucked after the tanning process to resemble other animal furs. The bulk of furs produced in the United States are more of a by-product to the primary purpose of meat production and are of lesser quality. Meat production favors harvest of young animals (70–84 days) which is not sufficient time for the rabbit to grow a high quality adult fur. The fur is best after 6 months and during the coldest part of the year. The overwhelming number of furs produced in the USA are used in the creation of

felt Felt is a textile that is produced by matting, condensing, and pressing fibers together. Felt can be made of natural fibers such as wool or animal fur, or from synthetic fibers such as petroleum-based acrylic fiber, acrylic or acrylonitrile or ...

because the fur quality of commercially raised rabbits is of too low a quality for the garment trade. See
Production of Rabbit Skins and Hair for Textiles
ref>Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations Lapin rex

Rex rabbit breeds

* Astrex * Canadian Plush Lop * Mini Rex *

Opossum Opossums () are members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia () endemic to the Americas. The largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, it comprises 126 species in 18 genera. Opossums originated in South America and entered North A ...

* Plush Lop (Miniature) * Plush Lop (Standard) *Rex S* Velveteen Lop

References

External links

Astrex Information Page
''(from the Rabbit Geek website)''
Astrex Rabbit Breed Club
''(includes genetics and a working breed standard)''
Canadian Curly Plush Lop Rabbits
''(from the Cake Chow website)''
House Rabbit SocietyThe National Mini Rex Club
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rex Rabbit Rabbits as pets Rabbit breeds Rabbit breeds originating in France