The harlequin rabbit breed (Oryctolagus cuniculus) belongs to the family Leporids. It is known to originate in France and, while there is no specific habitat for the harlequin rabbit, it can be found in gardens and yards of owners. Not much is known about the breeding of this harlequin rabbit and there are two breeds within this rabbit breed: the Japanese harlequin rabbit and the magpie harlequin rabbit. The magpie harlequin rabbit is white, unlike the Japanese harlequin rabbit, which is orange with black, chocolate, blue, or lilac coloring. The harlequin rabbit colors, that is two colors, are what make it a very popular breed to keep as a pet, in fact, it is one of the most popular breeds among rabbit breeders. The ears of these rabbits are known to be upright and straight and their ears and legs are known to show color variations. The coat or the fur of these rabbits is known to be short, and they have markings in the form of bands or bars.This rabbit’s diet is based on its size, age, and activity levels. It can be fed leafy greens and vegetables with pellet food side by side. Hay is also thought to be a very important part of its diet. These rabbits (both the Japanese harlequin and magpie harlequin breeds) are known to make great house pets. Their training can be done using a litter box and they are known to have a playful and curious temperament. Because of their curious temperament, these pets will hop to every inch of the house!The name ‘harlequin’ is debatable among some, as some believe that the harlequin rabbit should not be classified as a separate breed, while some think otherwise. When getting a harlequin rabbit breed as a pet, it should be kept in mind that it is better to house them with other rabbits, but not with dogs and cats. Their health and the risk of diseases should be taken care of by paying attention to their food and exercise. The grooming needs of these petsare also known to be lower than those of other rabbit breeds. These pets are known to be recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders’ Association and the British Rabbit Council.It is quite interesting to know more about these rabbits and if you are interested, you can read about the brown hare and the Himalayan rabbit, too. 

Fun Harlequin Rabbit Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Vegetables and leafy greens

What do they eat? Herbivores

Average litter size? 5-6

How much do they weigh? 6.5-9.5 lb (2.94-4.30 kg)

How long are they? N/A

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Black, blue, chocolate

Skin Type Fur or hair

What were their main threats? N/a

What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated

Where you’ll find them? Gardens And Yards

Locations France

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Oryctolagus

Class Mammalia

Family Leporids

Harlequin Rabbit Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a harlequin rabbit?A harlequin rabbit is a breed of rabbit.What class of animal does a harlequin rabbit belong to?A harlequin rabbit belongs to the class of Mammalia.How many harlequin rabbits are there in the world?There is no exact count of the global population of harlequin rabbits recorded.Where does a harlequin rabbit live?This breed of rabbit is known to originate from France.What is a harlequin rabbit’s habitat?There is no specific habitat for this harlequin rabbit as they are primarily kept as pets. They can be found in houses, gardens, and yards of their owners.Who do harlequin rabbits live with?These rabbits are generally kept as pets, so they are often found living with their human owners. They get on well with other rabbits, but not with cats and dogs.How long does a harlequin rabbit live?The average lifespan of the harlequin rabbit breed is known to be around five years.How do they reproduce?Not much is known about the breeding of the harlequin rabbit breed. They are often bred to be kept as pets.What is their conservation status?The conservation status of the harlequin rabbit breed is currently not evaluated as they are not commonly found in the wild. They are not believed to be going extinct, as they remain a popular pet.Harlequin Rabbit Fun FactsWhat do harlequin rabbits look like?The coat of this rabbit is known to be short and thus, minimal shedding of the coat takes place. The traditional harlequin rabbit is known to be of two colors, part black and part orange or white. This rabbit breed is considered unique because of its color and markings. The harlequin rabbit breed can be one of two types: the Japanese harlequin rabbit and the magpie harlequin rabbit. The magpie is white in color with blue, black, chocolate, or lilac coloring. The other type is the Japanese rabbit, which is orange with black, blue, chocolate, or lilac coloring. These rabbits’ body markings (in colors ranging from lilac to black) are known to be in the form of bars or bands, and sometimes both in a combination. They are known to have upright ears. Their legs and ears are also known to exhibit an alternating color pattern.How cute are they?Harlequin rabbits are considered cute by many people, this is why they are such popular pets.How do they communicate?Rabbits, in general, are known to communicate through body language and are known to use silent cues.How big is a harlequin rabbit?The harlequin rabbit is considered to be a small-medium-sized rabbit. The exact length is not known but it is known to look similar to a Dutch rabbit.How fast can a harlequin rabbit run?The exact speed of the harlequin rabbit is not known, but both the Japanese harlequin rabbit and the magpie harlequin rabbit are known to be fast-moving animals for their size.How much does a harlequin rabbit weigh?The weight of bucks is known to be around 6.5-9 lb (2.94-4 kg) and the weight of does ranges from 7-9.5 lb (3-4.3 kg).What are the male and female names of the species?Male rabbits are referred to as bucks, while females are known as does.What would you call a baby harlequin rabbit?Babies of rabbits are referred to as bunnies.What do they eat?The diet of harlequin rabbits should be based on their activity levels, age, and size. They can be fed leafy greens and vegetables with pellet food side by side. Hay is also thought to be a very important part of their diet.Are they friendly?Yes, harlequin rabbits are considered friendly!Would they make a good pet?The harlequin rabbit is considered to be a common and a great pet as they have a playful and docile temperament. This rabbit requires lots of attention as it is prone to boredom and loneliness. It should also not be left unsupervised with small kids as it is quite delicate. Just like other rabbits, this rabbit is prone to certain digestive and respiratory diseases but otherwise, their health is known to be manageable with close attention to their exercise and diet. The home or hutch of this harlequin rabbit breed should be large enough for the rabbit to hop three times from end to end.Did you know…The earliest record of this rabbit breed is from 1872 in Tokyo, Japan.The original name for this rabbit breed was in the Japanese language.A French rabbit fancier traveled to Japan in 1890 and bought a breeding pair. Breeding initiated in  Europe soon after the pair’s return and this rabbit breed was known to spread to Chicago in 1917.The harlequin rex rabbit is also known for its plush fur and coloration. It is known to be used as a meat rabbit but it is also popular for its fur.The harlequin lionhead rabbit is known to be one of the most expensive rabbit breeds.Perfect harlequin rabbits are rare, but this rabbit breed is known to be recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders’ Association and the British Rabbit Council.There is an ongoing debate about this rabbit as some people believe that the name ‘harlequin’ should not be used to denote a separate breed and is in fact just describes the color markings of these rabbits, whereas some believe that the harlequin breed is a separate breed.Variations of the harlequin rabbitThe harlequin rabbit is found in two types: the Japanese harlequin rabbit and the magpie harlequin rabbit. The Japanese harlequin is known to be orange with blue, chocolate, or lilac and black markings, whereas the magpie harlequin, instead of orange, is white with blue, chocolate, or lilac, and black markings.Getting your own harlequin rabbitThe harlequin rabbit breed is a pet that is known to be energetic and, instead of being held, likes to be petted and stroked. Shedding is known to be minimal and thus, this breed’s grooming needs are also low. Harlequin rabbits can cost around $20-50 and can be bought from any good pet shop. They should only be housed with other rabbits and not with cats and dogs. The health of and risk of diseases to this pet breed are manageable when proper attention and care are taken in terms of its exercise and food.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our European rabbit facts and eastern cottontail facts pages.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable harlequin rabbit coloring pages.

What type of animal is a harlequin rabbit?

A harlequin rabbit is a breed of rabbit.

Fun Harlequin Rabbit Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Vegetables and leafy greens

What do they eat? Herbivores

Average litter size? 5-6

How much do they weigh? 6.5-9.5 lb (2.94-4.30 kg)

How long are they? N/A

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Black, blue, chocolate

Skin Type Fur or hair

What were their main threats? N/a

What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated

Where you’ll find them? Gardens And Yards

Locations France

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Oryctolagus

Class Mammalia

Family Leporids

Fun Harlequin Rabbit Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Vegetables and leafy greens

What do they eat? Herbivores

Average litter size? 5-6

How much do they weigh? 6.5-9.5 lb (2.94-4.30 kg)

How long are they? N/A

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Black, blue, chocolate

Skin Type Fur or hair

What were their main threats? N/a

What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated

Where you’ll find them? Gardens And Yards

Locations France

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Oryctolagus

Class Mammalia

Family Leporids

Fun Harlequin Rabbit Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Vegetables and leafy greens

What do they eat? Herbivores

Average litter size? 5-6

How much do they weigh? 6.5-9.5 lb (2.94-4.30 kg)

How long are they? N/A

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Black, blue, chocolate

Skin Type Fur or hair

What were their main threats? N/a

What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated

Where you’ll find them? Gardens And Yards

Locations France

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Oryctolagus

Class Mammalia

Family Leporids

Fun Harlequin Rabbit Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Vegetables and leafy greens

What do they eat? Herbivores

Average litter size? 5-6

How much do they weigh? 6.5-9.5 lb (2.94-4.30 kg)

How long are they? N/A

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Black, blue, chocolate

Skin Type Fur or hair

What were their main threats? N/a

What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated

Where you’ll find them? Gardens And Yards

Locations France

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Oryctolagus

Class Mammalia

Family Leporids

What do they prey on? Vegetables and leafy greens

What do they eat? Herbivores

Average litter size? 5-6

How much do they weigh? 6.5-9.5 lb (2.94-4.30 kg)

How long are they? N/A

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Black, blue, chocolate

Skin Type Fur or hair

What were their main threats? N/a

What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated

Where you’ll find them? Gardens And Yards

Locations France

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Oryctolagus

Class Mammalia

Family Leporids

What do they prey on? Vegetables and leafy greens

What do they eat? Herbivores

Average litter size? 5-6

How much do they weigh? 6.5-9.5 lb (2.94-4.30 kg)

How long are they? N/A

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Black, blue, chocolate

Skin Type Fur or hair

What were their main threats? N/a

What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated

What do they prey on?

Vegetables and leafy greens

What do they eat?

Herbivores

Average litter size?

5-6

How much do they weigh?

6.5-9.5 lb (2.94-4.30 kg)

How long are they?

N/A

How tall are they?

What do they look like?

Black, blue, chocolate

Skin Type

Fur or hair

What were their main threats?

N/a

What is their conservation status?

Not Evaluated

Where you’ll find them? Gardens And Yards

Locations France

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Oryctolagus

Class Mammalia

Family Leporids

Where you’ll find them?

Gardens And Yards

Locations

France

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Oryctolagus

Kingdom

Animalia

Genus

Oryctolagus

Class Mammalia

Family Leporids

Class

Mammalia

Family

Leporids