Teme-Rasadan Woolly Rabbit

The woolly rabbit, also affectionately referred to as the "flufftail", is an animal native to the forests beside the mountainous regions of Teme-Rasadar.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Woolly rabbits are quadrupedal creatures with short, but lean bodies covered in a thick fleece. Unlike the common sheep, woolly rabbits don't sport any hooves. Instead, their paws are like that of other rabbits, allowing them to hop about comfortably. Their goat-like snouts are tipped with a sizable nose and their tails resemble cotton balls. Their ears are incredibly large and mainly upright, though some woolly rabbits are lop-eared. Size wise, they're on par with medium sized dogs such as beagles.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Woolly rabbits are strict herbivores. Those kept in captivity enjoy "scatter feeding", which is not only enriching, but it mimics the foraging behaviors the rabbits would utilize in the wild. Wild rabbits feed on leafy materials; clovers, dandelions, and wildflowers are most common. During the colder months when these plants are scarce, woolly rabbits forage for berries and twigs. Crops see a rise in damages during the winter due to hungry rabbits passing through.

Behaviour

For the most part, woolly rabbits are docile creatures and don't present a threat to anything other than strawberry patches. They're social creatures and wild rabbits live in groups of up to twenty rabbits or more, depending on the natural resources available to them. Woolly rabbits aren't burrowers and instead, they live in small caverns within the mountain or in hollowed out tree trunks. Squabbles between rabbits are uncommon and often the result of dire circumstances, such as famine or droughts.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The woolly rabbit is kept as livestock for the most part, though some members of Teme-Rasadan upper class society keep them as pets. As livestock, the rabbits are sheared every six months. Their fleece is then scoured in a warm bath and washed using a soap made from boiling the roots of a saponaria plant and rosewood. The delicately cleaned fleece gets spun into woolen threads, forming yarn that can be used for a multitude of items. Woolly rabbit sweaters are popular in the colder months, as well as crocheted blankets using dyed woolen yarn.
Some fleeces are treated with lanolin, which the woolly rabbits naturally secrete, giving the yarn some water resistance. Low quality wool is never discarded, but used or sold as a fertilizer. Aside from their fleece, woolly rabbits provide a sustainable source of protein. Given their hardiness and adaptability to harsh weather, woolly rabbits can be raised year-round for their meat. A diet that regularly includes their meat helps maintain healthy energy levels and prevents the development of anemia. Much like chicken, woolly rabbit meat has a mild flavor that compliments a wide variety of spices and herbs.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

They have a heightened sense of hearing due to their abnormally sized ears. Their sense of smell is decent as well, though their sight is poor. Woolly rabbits tend to be clumsy animals due to their lackluster sight and they don't have a developed sense of spatial awareness.

by Frankie V. (Generated with OpenAI)

Scientific Name

Laniger Mons Cuniculi

Lifespan

10 years

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Average Weight

20-25 lbs