answersLogoWhite

0

Humans' relationship with the European or 'true' rabbit was first recorded by the Phoenicians over 1,000 years BC, when they termed the Iberian Peninsula i-shfaním (literally, "the land of the hyraxes"). This phrase is pronounced absolutely identically in modern Hebrew, i (אי) meaning "island" and shafan (שפן) meaning "hyrax", shfaním (שפנים) being the plural form. Phoenicians called the local rabbits "hyraxes" because hyraxes resemble rabbits in some way, and probably were more common than rabbits at that time in their native Levant. Hyraxes, like rabbits, are not rodents. The Romans converted the phrase i-shfaním to its Latin form, Hispania, and hence the modern word "Spain".

User Avatar

Wiki User

18y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Why is rabbits scared of there owners?

Rabbits are naturally timid and skittish because they are prey animals for so many carnivores.


What do baby rabbits smell of?

Baby rabbits are naturally odourless. The reason for this is that predators like foxes cannot track them down- it's to protect themselves.


Do you have to train your rabbits to swim or do they naturally swim?

Don't let rabbits get in water! They don't like it, and so of course how do you expect them to swim? They don't even like bathing!


What type of species does naturally occur in a habitat?

It's an introduced species such as rabbits being introduced into Australia.


Do you Rock your rabbit to sleep?

No. Our rabbits prefer to settle themselves in their hutch, where they can burrow into paper and snuggle with each other. As rabbits are naturally sensitive rabbits, unless you have rocked them to sleep from infancy, they will most likely wake up as soon as you stop or shift the weight.


Do Flemish Giant rabbits have predators?

Flemish Giants are a domesticated breed. Not being naturally occurring, they don't have any natural predators. Had they been naturally occurring, they'd have pretty much he same enemies as wild rabbits. Although their size would probably have protected adults from some of the smaller predators.


When can rabbits able to eat by themselves?

Rabbits will naturally start to eat from their mothers milk at between 5 and 6 weeks of age, they are able to eat by themselves (without milk) at about 7-8 weeks. This is why it is so important rabbits are not removed from their mother too soon!


Why is your rabbit licking you and not the other rabbits?

Rabbits display affection to other rabbits naturally by nibbling. By reacting to a rabbits nibbles by saying "ouch" or moving away, a rabbit senses it did something wrong. It then adapts to lick as a display of affection to humans. It is also a form of nurturing. If a rabbit licks you, it means you did something it likes and it is trying to repay you.


Are wild rabbits friendly towards humans?

Wild rabbits are typically not friendly towards humans as they are naturally cautious and skittish animals. They may perceive humans as a threat and may run away or act defensively when approached.


Can small male rabbits make large female rabbits pregnant?

He does indeed and rabbits love sex, they have several litters of babies a year.Incorrect, it is possible, though rare, for a female rabbit to drop an egg in which the DNA does not separate resulting in a self-fertilized egg. This creates a genetically identical copy of the mother. This process is known as Parthenogenesis.Parthenogenesis does occur in many species, but does not occur naturally in rabbits, parthenogenesis is induced through electrical stimulation and is not naturally occurring (In rabbits)Does_a_male_rabbit_have_to_have_intercourse_with_the_female_rabbit_to_get_her_pregnantDiscuss:Does_a_male_rabbit_have_to_have_intercourse_with_the_female_rabbit_to_get_her_pregnantFirst answer by Special:Contributions. Last edit by User:MercTheMad. Contributor http://wiki.answers.com/help/trust_points: 0 [User:MercTheMad]. Question http://wiki.answers.com/help/question_popularity: 1 [Does_a_male_rabbit_have_to_have_intercourse_with_the_female_rabbit_to_get_her_pregnant]


Can a rabbit live on concrete?

No, rabbits can't live on concrete. Concrete is too hard for a rabbit's feet, in the long term. Rabbits don't have pads on their feet to protect them from hard surfaces. Rabbits naturally spend their time on grass and dirt and other soft surfaces. Rabbits that spend too much time on hard surfaces like concrete suffer from sore hocks (injuries on their heels).


Why are ears floppy?

Well, rabbits have very poor eyesight. So, to help escape from predators, their ears are large. In which, makes them floppy. No, actually, rabbits have very good eyesight- which according to some people, is because of their vitamin-A rich diet. Vitamin A is associated to healthy eyes. Rabbits that have floopy ears are naturally born that way. From Raadee