Lionhead Rabbit
Lionhead rabbits are not the result of inter-species breeding between lion and rabbit. Lionhead rabbits are one-hundred percent rabbit. Lionhead rabbits have not been around for a long time, the breed was first discovered in the early 1900s but they did not come to the United States until the mid 2000s. Since the breed is fairly new they have not been officially recognized as a breed of domestic rabbit. Lionhead rabbits are small and cute rabbits that are easy to maintain and are great pets for small children.
Lionhead rabbits are a mix of Swiss Fox and Belgian Dwarf rabbits. While Belgian Dwarfs are small rabbits, Swiss Foxes have long thick fur resulting in Lionhead's with their thicker than normal body fur and long fur around their head resembling a lion's mane as well as being small rabbits like Belgian Dwarfs.
The extra long hair that is surrounds the Lionhead's head and neck is the result of genetic mutation. DNA is passed from both parents through sperm and egg cells that aid in the development of the offspring. Sometimes a mistake in the developmental process arises and instead of the Lionhead bunnies to growing uniform length of hair all over they receive instructions to grow longer hair around the neck only. Most genetic mutations are recessive which means that there is a mistake in the DNA coding that can easily be corrected by other the correct DNA during reproduction of the next generation. But Lionheads are unique, the mutation that is involved in the Lionhead’s mane is not recessive but a dominant mutation, which means that the genetic mutation is not easily corrected and will appear more in the offspring in future generations. The dominant nature of the mane is probably the reason this new breed of rabbits are growing in numbers.
Just like rabbits come in different colors and sizes, Lionhead rabbits can have different mane types; double mane and single mane. What determines whether the rabbit will have a single mane or a double mane is based of what genes that they inherit from their parents, "The mutational dominant gene producing the mane is designated with a capital ‘M' and the same gene carrying no mutation is designated lowercase ‘m'. Since DNA is passed to offspring from both parents there are three possibilities in the offspring’s genes; MM, Mm, and mm. The bunnies that inherit the dominant mutational gene Mm type will produce a single mane, the bunnies that inherit the mutational gene MM and will produce a double mane, and the bunnies that inherit mm will produce no mane" (Bordeu). So if a Lionheads bunny inherits two copies of the dominant gene they will have a double maned bunnies.If a Lionhead inherits only one dominant gene they will have a single mane. If a bunny doesn't inherit any dominant gene at all they will have no mane. So there is a bigger chance of Lionhead offspring also being Lionhead, which shows Lionhead rabbits are going to be around for a while.
Even though Lionheads have not been around that long they have already became very popular pets. They are small, cute, easy to maintain, and easy to breed. It's no wonder Lionheads are the new hot pet among families in the United Sates and Europe.
Lionhead rabbits are a mix of Swiss Fox and Belgian Dwarf rabbits. While Belgian Dwarfs are small rabbits, Swiss Foxes have long thick fur resulting in Lionhead's with their thicker than normal body fur and long fur around their head resembling a lion's mane as well as being small rabbits like Belgian Dwarfs.
The extra long hair that is surrounds the Lionhead's head and neck is the result of genetic mutation. DNA is passed from both parents through sperm and egg cells that aid in the development of the offspring. Sometimes a mistake in the developmental process arises and instead of the Lionhead bunnies to growing uniform length of hair all over they receive instructions to grow longer hair around the neck only. Most genetic mutations are recessive which means that there is a mistake in the DNA coding that can easily be corrected by other the correct DNA during reproduction of the next generation. But Lionheads are unique, the mutation that is involved in the Lionhead’s mane is not recessive but a dominant mutation, which means that the genetic mutation is not easily corrected and will appear more in the offspring in future generations. The dominant nature of the mane is probably the reason this new breed of rabbits are growing in numbers.
Just like rabbits come in different colors and sizes, Lionhead rabbits can have different mane types; double mane and single mane. What determines whether the rabbit will have a single mane or a double mane is based of what genes that they inherit from their parents, "The mutational dominant gene producing the mane is designated with a capital ‘M' and the same gene carrying no mutation is designated lowercase ‘m'. Since DNA is passed to offspring from both parents there are three possibilities in the offspring’s genes; MM, Mm, and mm. The bunnies that inherit the dominant mutational gene Mm type will produce a single mane, the bunnies that inherit the mutational gene MM and will produce a double mane, and the bunnies that inherit mm will produce no mane" (Bordeu). So if a Lionheads bunny inherits two copies of the dominant gene they will have a double maned bunnies.If a Lionhead inherits only one dominant gene they will have a single mane. If a bunny doesn't inherit any dominant gene at all they will have no mane. So there is a bigger chance of Lionhead offspring also being Lionhead, which shows Lionhead rabbits are going to be around for a while.
Even though Lionheads have not been around that long they have already became very popular pets. They are small, cute, easy to maintain, and easy to breed. It's no wonder Lionheads are the new hot pet among families in the United Sates and Europe.