Lionhead

Common Name: Lionhead
Scientific Name: Oryctologus cuniculus (Full Taxonomy)
Origin : Belgium
Relative Size: Much Smaller Than Average (as compared to other rabbits)
Average Lifespan: 8 year(s)
Compatibility: Relatively Non-Aggressive (as compared to other rabbits)
Category: Mammals » Rabbits

One of the newest breed of domesticated rabbits. It has particularly long hair surrounding the face, reminiscent of the mane of a male lion, hence the name. Other characteristic traits of the lionhead include a rounded head and small size, usually between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds. It also tends to have slightly shorter ears than most breeds. The first thought is they originated in Belgium in a litter of bunnies that was the result of the crossbreeding of the Swiss Fox and a Belgian Dwarf. Then crosses to a smaller wool type breed was also included in the crossbreeding. Some sources list the Jersey Wooly but its probably the Dwarf Angora (in the USA we have no Dwarf Angora so the name Jersey Wooly was added here) Later the breed was imported into England where continued crossbreeding of small breed rabbits and additional wool breeds were made. This crossbreeding made in Europe and in England created the current EUROPEAN LIONHEAD RABBIT.The another opinion is that it did not originate in Belgium and that the Jersey Wooly had nothing to do with the making of the Lionhead breed. In this opinion it is thought that when European breeders were working on the Dwarf Angora the Lionhead mutation occurred in a litter of bunnies and was accidentally spread throughout the Dwarf Angora Breed. This gene did create a problem for the Dwarf Angora breed as it restricted the wool on the back and sides of the rabbit. In Europe a number of attempts were made to set the trait and establish a new breed often called the Tete De Lion. All these attempts failed except for a small "pet market".The Lionhead has a Cobby well rounded body, head bold with well developed muzzle. Their legs are of medium length and not too fine in bone. Their ears do not exceed 3 inches in length. Their mane is between 2-3 inches in length to form a full circle around the head, extending to a 'V' at the back of the neck falling into a fringe between the ears. Noticeably longer hair on the cheeks and chest. The coat is dense and of medium length, roll back and even all over body in Adults. The Lionhead makes a lovely pet as well as a show rabbit , and is very well tempered & friendly, enjoying plenty of attention and fuss, but not requiring a massive amount of grooming, as the mane does not tend to matt up nearly as much as normal long hair in a rabbit.The coats of the Lionhead should be short and roll back with little or no long hair on the flanks. short well furred ears, but not at all furnished (i.e. no long hair on the ears). The outstanding characteristic of the Lionhead Lop and the Lionhead Rabbit is that they have a 'mane'. These small rabbits are much easier to care for than longhaired or wooly rabbits like the Angoras, because their mane only needs to be combed out every couple of days. The mane on the Lionhead Lop does tend to mat a bit more than on the erect eared Lionhead Rabbit.One thing to keep in mind when getting a young Lionhead is that this is a very new breed, and you won't know what your pet will look like until it grows up! There is no absolute certainty that it will keep its mane. The mane may molt and disappear for good or it may grow back even fuller than it was before