Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Rice University
Lagomorpha
Our Warren of Rabbits
Fafner and Falafel
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- Dutch
- both female
- both ~2.5 kg (~5.5 lbs)
Our first pair of rabbits, Fafner and Falafel were adopted as bunnies. Fafner was named after the
Nordic dragon for her brave and intrepid behavior, Falafel was initially more timid and comical in
her behavior, prompting her more playful name. Falafel became a mother in October 2005, giving birth
to Christopher and Fevroniya following the turmoil of transporting and housing rabbits after
Hurricane Katrina that allowed Alberich to become a father.
Santa and Kundry
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- Miniature Lop
- both female
- both ~2 kg (~4.5 lbs)
Also adopted as bunnies, Santa and Kundry are named for their courage, inquisitiveness and sweetness after
the heroines of Wagner's operas Die Fliegende Hollander and Parsifal, respectively. Never have I met more social
rabbits, as these "puppy bunnies" demand petting and will pursue you should you not comply.
Alberich
- French Lop
- male
- ~5 kg (~11 lbs)
Alberich was rescued as a buck from a local pet store where he was being kept in an aquarium scarcely larger
than himself. Though clearly happy to be with us and in a much larger home, he can be very stubborn,
hardheaded and grumpy -- hence his name taken from Nordic legend. Alberich is the father of Christopher
and Fevroniya.
Christopher and Fevroniya
X
=
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- Dutch/French Lop mix
- both female
- both ~1.5 kg (~3 lbs) and growing
In the turmoil following our relocation after Hurricane Katrina and due in large part to the low
security of their temporary enclosures, Falafel and Alberich met up one night and did what rabbits
do best. Christopher and Fevroniya had a rocky start, as the first time mother Falafel was initially
quite devoid of maternal behavior. Both were bottle fed until they were strong enough to be able to
pursue Falafel well enough to actually nurse, but today they are healthy bouncing baby bunnies.
Christopher had a heavy appetite and grew like a weed; for the first weeks she was almost twice the size
of her siblings. She is also somewhat stubborn, and is brave, adventurous, and quite resourceful. Ischel
honored me by giving her my name because she saw numerous similarities between our characters -- which
likely had more to do with size and appetite than anything else. Fevroniya, named from the heroine of
Mussorgsky's opera The Invisible City of Kitezh, grew more slowly but has caught up with Christopher.
She is more reserved, but still very curious and loving. The breed mixing gave both of them very unique
coloration, and Fevroniya appears to have half-lopped ears.
Breed photos courtesy of www.arba.net
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