We hear people using rabbit and bunny words interchangeably. Is there any difference between them? There are no major differences between them.
Rabbit is the right word used for the animal and bunny is just an endearment or a sweet name for a rabbit.
Rabbit word is used in scientific and formal settings whereas bunny is used in informal and friendly settings.
After all Bugs Bunny doesn’t sound right if we call him Bugs Rabbit and the same is the case with Easter Bunny (Easter rabbit doesn’t just sound right!)
What is a Bunny?
“Bunny” is an informal name for a rabbit. They are often seen as cute, fluffy, and sweet animals. Sometimes, baby rabbits are called “bunnies.”
The most famous bunny is the Easter bunny which brings chocolates, eggs, gifts, etc. Some popular cartoons are Bugs bunny and Trixie Travis (from Rabbit’s Kin).
What is a Rabbit?
Rabbits are mammals that belong to the Leporidae family. They are present in almost all habitats. However, they prefer grasslands, marshes, forests, marshes, etc.
Depending on their species, they can be either wild or domesticated. The few popular breeds of rabbits are Cottontail rabbits, English lops, and Lionheads.
They have powerful back legs or hind legs which help them to hop. Female rabbits give birth to approximately 5 babies. The baby rabbits are called kittens or kits.
They can’t hop like adults as their spine is not fully developed. Sometimes, baby rabbits are also called bunnies.
What is a hare?
A hare is a mammal that belongs to the same family as a rabbit. You can find many differences between rabbits and hares.
Hares are present only in the wild, but rabbits can be found in the wild too, and they can be domesticated too.
We will write a separate article on the differences between hares and rabbits so that it will be easy for you to learn about these two animals.
Difference between Bunny and Rabbit – Bunny vs Rabbit
Note: We are referring to rabbit kits as bunnies here and giving the differences between rabbits and baby rabbits (bunnies).
Diet – Baby bunnies feed on mother’s milk. Rabbit’s diet includes weeds, shrubs, carrots, clover, etc.
Coat – Baby bunnies don’t have fur. Fur develops after a week. By 12 days, they develop a fluffy and soft coat. This coat remains for around a year.
A rabbit’s coat usually develops a year after birth. Their coat is smooth but not as fluffy as baby bunnies.
Comparison Table Between Rabbit and Bunny
| Characteristic | Bunny | Rabbit |
| Kingdom | Animalia | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia | Mammalia |
| Order | Lagomorpha | Lagomorpha |
| Family | Leporidae | Leporidae |
| Genus | Pentalagus, Bunolagus, Nesolagus, Romerolagus, Brachylagus, Slyvilagus, Oryctolagus, Poelagus. | Pentalagus, Bunolagus, Nesolagus, Romerolagus, Brachylagus, Slyvilagus, Oryctolagus, Poelagus. |
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