Rabbit Model

Quick Answer: A rabbit model is a replica of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), the classic mammal type in school and college zoology, used to teach the internal organs of a mammal. Zoology models of this kind are usually made in dissection form, with the body opened to show the digestive, respiratory, circulatory, excretory and reproductive systems.

The Rabbit as a Mammal Type

Rabbits have long been the standard mammal in zoology syllabi, and a model lets students study the same organs without animal dissection. The listing is simply titled Rabbit Model, so the exact layout, which organs can be removed and the overall size are not stated in the title.

The digestive system is where the rabbit differs most from carnivores. Rabbits are herbivores with chisel-like incisors that grow continuously, a gap called the diastema where canines would be, and a long gut. A very large caecum at the junction of the small and large intestine houses bacteria that break down cellulose. Rabbits then eat the soft pellets produced there, known as caecotrophs, to absorb the nutrients released.

Above the gut, the muscular diaphragm separates the thorax from the abdomen, a defining mammalian feature that students can compare with a bird’s air-sac breathing. The thorax holds the four-chambered heart and the lungs; below the diaphragm lie the liver, stomach, kidneys and, in a model that shows them, the reproductive organs.

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Carry the rabbit model on its base with both hands; ears and limbs are the weak points.
• If organs lift out, replace them in their recesses in the same order each time so none are misplaced.
• Clean with a soft brush and a lightly damp cloth, keeping moisture out of joins between organs.

Applications

• Teaching the mammalian body plan and the organ systems of a vertebrate type
• Comparing herbivore and carnivore digestion using the caecum and teeth
• Replacing or preparing for dissection in practical classes
• Spotting and labelling exercises in practical examinations

Why Choose LabEquip

Zoology teachers buy this model to cover the mammal type in the syllabus, often with a bird so the two classes can be compared. LabEquip lists it with the pigeon model in its biology lab products, and the rabbit chart gives students a labelled reference to copy. Enquiries go through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the caecum so large in a rabbit?

The caecum is a fermentation chamber where bacteria digest cellulose, which the rabbit’s own enzymes cannot break down. Because the rabbit eats only plants, it needs a large chamber to extract enough energy. In humans the caecum is small and carries the appendix.

What is caecotrophy?

It is the rabbit’s habit of eating soft, nutrient-rich pellets that come from the caecum, usually in the early morning. Passing food through the gut twice lets the rabbit absorb vitamins and proteins made by its gut bacteria.

Why do rabbit teeth keep growing?

Rabbit incisors and cheek teeth have open roots and grow throughout life, balancing the constant wear from chewing tough plants. Rabbits also have a second, small pair of upper incisors behind the main ones, one reason they are placed in the order Lagomorpha rather than with rodents.

What is the diastema?

It is the gap between the incisors and the cheek teeth, where a carnivore would have canines. In rabbits the cheeks can be drawn into this gap while gnawing, and the tongue moves food back to the grinding teeth.

What does the diaphragm show about mammals?

The diaphragm is a dome-shaped sheet of muscle found only in mammals. When it contracts and flattens, the chest cavity enlarges and air is drawn into the lungs. Birds, reptiles and amphibians breathe using other mechanisms.

Which features of a rabbit show that it is a mammal?

Hair, external ear flaps, mammary glands in females, a diaphragm, a four-chambered heart and teeth of different types. The model can be used to find the internal features in turn, while the chart covers the external ones.

Last Updated: September 2026