One of the cutest things about rabbits is their ears. When they have floppy, soft ears that hang over their face, it gives them an even more adorable appearance. When it comes to long-eared rabbits, there are many different breeds out there to choose from. There are the more common breeds, as well as, some bunnies we bet you have never heard of until now.
In the article below, we will go over nine lop-eared rabbit breeds. We will provide you with some information on each type of long-eared bunny, plus we will also share the cutest pictures we could find!
The 9 Lop-Eared Rabbit Breeds
If you are not familiar, the term “lop” refers to ears that drop over instead of stand erect on the rabbit’s head. As we mentioned, there are many different breeds of long-eared rabbit breeds, plus many different varieties of the ears themselves.
A lop ear does not necessarily have to touch the floor. The ears can be medium length or short. The only prerequisite is they flop over most adorably. Let’s take a look at these breeds:
1. Miniature Lop-Eared Rabbit
The miniature lop-eared rabbit is a tiny breed in the bunny kingdom. They have short, soft fur, and they are very sweet-natured. They make excellent pets and require little maintenance. With that being said, they can develop some health issues that you should be aware of, so you can spot it if it comes up.
2. American Fuzzy Lop Eared Rabbit
As the name states, this long-eared bunny was breed in the United States. It has a long coat of fur that is not quite as soft as their Angora cousins. Typically, their fur looks frazzled, and well…fuzzy. This breed has a lot of energy, plus they are very affectionate. They do require a good amount of grooming, though.
3. French Lop Eared Rabbit
This next bunny is a big one. This rabbit can grow to be giant and can weigh over 13 pounds. Due to their size, they can be somewhat difficult to handle as they can unintentionally scratch and kick. Beyond that, though, they have affectionate and loveable personalities with soft fur coats.
4. English Lop Eared Rabbit
The English lopped eared rabbit is another large and in charge animal that can grow up to 11 pounds. Due to their size, they require a lot of space to hop around. This bunny also has short, soft fur, and they have a loveable personality.
5. Lop Eared Lionhead
Like their name says, this particular rabbit is known for its lion-like mane of fur around their head and shoulders. The Lionhead is typically smaller, and they can lose their “mane” as they grow into adulthood, but not always. They are also very active little tykes.
6. Holland Lop Eared Rabbit
The Holland lop is a smaller breed that is compact in stature. They stand upright and have short fur in a variety of colors and patterns. These bunnies have broad, deep shoulders, are very quick and agile, and they are a more popular breed of rabbit.
7. German Lop Eared Rabbit
This tough little bunny is robust with a stocky frame. They have short to medium fur that is very soft and comes in many colors and patterns. One notable feature of this little rabbit is the crown-like fur between their ears. They can also grow to be 6 pounds.
8. Cashmere Lop Eared Rabbit
This long-eared rabbit was named for their super soft fur. They have the longest fur of the lop-eared family, but they are rather small and do not get bigger than 4 pounds when they are fully grown. Due to their long fur, they also require more grooming, and they have medium length ears.
9. Plush Lop Eared Rabbits
This is a breed that is new to the world. The plush rabbit has been bred to have the best traits of several different rabbits including soft fur, long ears, and docile nature. They have shiny, thick coats of medium length with big eyes. They are also considered a work in progress.
Conclusion
We hope you have enjoyed the different types of lop-eared rabbits. These cute, floppy-eared bunnies can be large or small, tricolored or solid, and energetic or lap pets. They all have their own personalities and come from different backgrounds. The one thing they all have in common is their adorable long-eared features that are too cute for words.
If you are thinking about adopting a long-eared rabbit breed into your home, we hope you will come back and check out our other guides on how to…
- 5 Alternatives to Rabbit Bedding Found in Your Home
- 5 Best Predator-Proof Rabbit Hutches – Reviews & Top Picks
- 10 Things You Can Do to Find A Lost Rabbit
Featured Image Credit: Mary Swift, Shutterstock
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
