Question

Pelvic girdle of rabbit consists of …………...

Answer 1

Hint: A rabbit is a mammal that is of Therapsid order. Therapsids are synapsids that are believed to be the ancestors of mammals. Rabbits were first found about 40 million years ago. Rabbits evolved in Asian continent. Lagomorpha are the oldest ancestors of Rabbits.

Complete answer:
Rabbits are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Lagomorpha, family Leporidae.
Rabbits are gregarious animals that live in burrows in open fields. They are nocturnal, coming out of the burrows in the evening and retiring in the early morning. They are herbivorous and grass is their food of choice.
The average lifespan of a rabbit is 5-6 years. The cecum is large, thin walled, coiled and terminates in the thick walled light colored vermiform appendix. The appendix contains a large amount of lymphoid tissue. The left lung consists of two lobes, and the right lung consists of four lobes. The right atrioventricular valve of the heart is the bicuspid valve because it has two cusps. The rabbit possesses a well developed nictitating membrane, the third eyelid. The uterus is duplex which separates cervical and uterine openings. There are usually four pairs of mammary glands. The bones are relatively lightweight but they have strong musculature. The pelvic girdle of a rabbit consists of three bones: ilium, ischium and pubis which are fused. Acetabulum, a cavity, is formed at the point of fusion. The thigh bones articulate with acetabulum. Pubic symphysis is a point where two halves of the pelvic girdle meet ventrally. They have a ring-like bony structure which helps them in jumping and standing.
Rabbits are induced ovulators, ova are released 10-13 hours following copulation. The average gestation period is 32 days. Sterile post partum mating occurs.

Note:
In some countries, rabbits are a good source of meat. Some species like Angora rabbits produce high quality wool. Rabbits are also used in laboratories for research purposes. Rabbits’ eyes are positioned high on their head and they have a weak yet flexible neck which made them evolve through all these years.