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72-666: The park was created on 8 June 1983 under terms of decree-law 237/83, as a classified natural park. In order to support the conservation of nature, a resolution of the Council of Ministers (142/97), dated 28 August 1997, integrated Alvão into a broader area of classification under terms of the European Union's Natura 2000 designation: Sítio Alvão-Marão como (Sítio TCON0003 – Alvão-Marão). Under this arrangement community directives, such as those for bird species (79/409/CEE, 2 April) and habitats (92/43/CEE, 21 May) were included within

144-449: A harvest . This behaviour may be an antipredator adaptation, as rabbits in areas where predators are under rigorous control may move three times further from their burrows than those in areas without predator management. The European rabbit is a gregarious animal, which lives in stable social groups centred around females and sharing access to one or more burrow systems. Social structures tend to be looser in areas where burrow construction

216-478: A chin gland, in a process known as "chinning". Though male European rabbits may sometimes be amicable with one another, fierce fights can erupt among bucks during the breeding season , which typically starts in autumn and continues through to spring . Occasionally, the mating season will extend into the summer . Introduced populations in the Southern Hemisphere experience breeding seasons during

288-471: A dichotomous geological region, between schist and granite rock types. The park has a temperate Atlantic climate with Mediterranean characteristics. The headlands of the Olo River are influenced by maritime air masses that rise over park's eastern boundary. This results in heavy precipitation during the winter months. These months are cold and rainy, with frequent snow showers in the high altitudes, while in

360-457: A few feet long and are lined with grass and moss, as well as fur plucked from the doe's belly. The breeding burrow protects the kits from adult bucks and predators. The gestation period of the European rabbit is 30 days, with the sex ratio of male to female kits tending to be 1:1. Greater maternal investment over male offspring may result in higher birth weights for bucks. Kits born to

432-644: A list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitats Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission , after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site. The Habitats Directive divides the EU territory into nine biogeographic regions , each with its own ecological coherence. Natura 2000 sites are selected according to

504-457: A night, for only a few minutes. After suckling is complete, the doe seals the entrance to the stop with soil and vegetation. In its native Iberian and southern French range, European rabbit young have a growth rate of 5 g (0.18 oz) per day, though such kittens in non-native ranges may grow 10 g (0.35 oz) per day. Weight at birth is 30–35 g (1.1–1.2 oz) and increases to 150–200 g (5.3–7.1 oz) by 21–25 days, during

576-402: A northeast to southwest axis. Accompanying these movements were great expansions of granitic magma and prolonged secondary erosion, resulting in sedimentary cliffs and unaccented mountain ranges. A tertiary phase, in the raised areas, resulted in fractures in the dominant northeast-southwest axis, resulting in a variation in relief caused by different rock resistance. The area is characterized by

648-399: A population decline in its native range due to myxomatosis , rabbit hemorrhagic disease , overhunting and habitat loss. Outside of its native range, it is known as an invasive species , as it has been introduced to countries on all continents with the exception of Antarctica, often with devastating effects on local biodiversity due to a lack of predators. The average adult European rabbit

720-495: A region that spans the north-west to south-east, and likely diverged during the Quaternary glaciation 2 million years ago. Subspecies other than O. c. algirus and O. c. cuniculus have been recommended for abandonment, as they have very little evolutionary history and genetic diversity , and are likely not indigenous to the regions they occupy. Populations considered native to North Africa, such as those considered part of

792-475: A result of the promiscuous activity of several generations. Digging is done by pulling the soil backwards with the fore feet and throwing it between the hind legs, which scatter the material with kicking motions. While most burrows are dug from the outside, some warrens feature holes dug from the inside, which act as emergency exits when escaping from predators below ground. These holes usually descend perpendicularly to 1–1.2 m (3–4 ft), and their mouths lack

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864-535: A rethinking of the habitats assessment might be necessary in the light of a new climate law as part of e.g. the European Green Deal . In European law literature Borgstrom and Kistenkas have discussed some possible future incompatibilities of the Natura 2000 habitats-test with novel EU green infrastructure policies. In the late 2010s the habitats assessment was at the basis of the nitrogen crisis in

936-617: A wedge, thus making reference to the animal's digging ability. Later study of the etymology of cuniculus has attested to its origin as a diminutive or adjectival form of the root word for "dog" ( cun– ) in Celtiberian. The species' dwelling place is termed a warren or cony-garth. "Warren" comes from the Old English wareine , itself derived from the Old French warenne , varenne , or garenne . The root word

1008-570: A wide variety of morphologies . The European rabbit is well known for digging networks of burrows , called warrens, where it spends most of its time when not feeding. It is a gregarious species, and lives in social groups centered around territorial females. European rabbits in an established social group will rarely stray far from their warren, with female rabbits leaving the warren mainly to establish nests where they will raise their young. Unlike hares ( Lepus spp.), rabbits are altricial and are born blind, requiring maternal care until they leave

1080-400: Is 40 cm (16 in) in length, and can weigh 1.2–2.0 kg (2.6–4.4 lb), though size and weight vary with habitat and diet. Its distinctive ears can measure up to 6.5–7.5 cm (2.6–3.0 in) from the occiput . Due to the European rabbit's history of domestication , selective breeding , and introduction to non-native habitats, feral European rabbits across the world display

1152-472: Is Caravelas, 1,339 metres (4,393 ft) above sea level, and the lowest point is Lousa along the Rio Olo, roughly 260 metres (850 ft) above sea level. There is an altitudinal range of 1,079 metres (3,540 ft), and the park is divided into two zones: an elevated area along the Rio Olo watershed that mostly corresponds to the parish of Lamas de Olo, and a lower area that includes Ribeira de Fervença and

1224-437: Is a tool to explore the network and gives access to every standard data form. As of 2017 , Natura 2000 protected 27,312 sites with a terrestrial area of 787,606 km (304,096 sq mi) (around 18 percent of land of the EU countries) and marine area of 360,350 km (139,130 sq mi), and was considered almost complete in the EU terrestrial environment. The process of designation has not always been smooth as

1296-676: Is correlated to that of the rest of the rabbit's body, as action pressure from the muscles creates force that is then distributed through the skeletal structures. Underuse of the rabbit's muscles leads to osteoporosis via bone rarefaction . The skull of the European rabbit displays a significant facial tilt of roughly 45° forward relative to the basicranium at rest, which supports their locomotion being mainly jumping or hopping (saltorial) rather than running (cursorial). The European rabbit lives in warrens that contain 2–10 other individuals living in smaller groups to ensure greater breeding success. Territoriality and aggression contribute greatly to

1368-423: Is more efficient. The burrow entrances are typically 10–50 cm (4–20 in) in diameter, and are easily recognisable by the bare earth at their mouths. Vegetation growth is prevented by the constant passing and repassing of the resident rabbits. Big burrows are complex excavations which may descend to depths of several feet. They are not constructed on any specified plan, and appear to be enlarged or improved as

1440-468: Is relatively easy. Dominance hierarchies exist in parallel for both bucks and does. Among bucks, status is determined through access to does, with dominant bucks siring the majority of the colony's offspring. The dominant does have priority access to the best nesting sites, with competition over such sites often leading to serious injury or death. Subordinate does, particularly in large colonies, typically resort to using single-entrance breeding spots far from

1512-506: Is superficially similar to the North American cottontails ( Sylvilagus ) in that they are born blind and naked, have white flesh, and little sexual dimorphism . However, they differ in skull characteristics, and cottontails do not construct their own burrows as the European rabbit does. Molecular studies confirm that the resemblance between the two is due to convergent evolution , and that the European rabbit's closest relatives are

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1584-532: Is the Low Latin warenna , which originally signified a preserve in general, only to be later used to refer specifically to an enclosure set apart for rabbits and hares. "Cony-garth" derives from the Middle English conygerthe , which may be a compound of connynge + erthe (cony+earth). The term stems from the Old French conniniere or coninyere , and later conilliere . The root word

1656-568: Is the Walloon rabett , which was once commonly used in Liège . Rabett itself is derived from the Middle Dutch robbe , with the addition of the suffix -ett . The term "cony" or "coney" antedates "rabbit", and first occurred during the 13th century to refer to the animal's pelt. Later, "cony" referred to the adult animal, while "rabbit" referred to the young. The root of "cony"

1728-625: Is the old French connil or counil , of which the Norman was conin , plural coniz or conis . Connil comes from the Latin cuniculus . Its forerunner is the Greek κόνικλος ( kóniklos ). The origin of κόνικλος itself is unclear: Ælian , who lived during the third century, linked the word to Celtiberian and later authors relate it to its Basque name unchi ; Varo and Pliny connected it to cuneus , which refers to

1800-564: Is the Low Latin cunicularia , the feminine form of the adjective cunicularius , which pertains to the rabbit (as in the specific name , cuniculus ). The generic name , Oryctolagus , derives from Ancient Greek : ὀρυκτός ( oryktos , "burrowing") and λαγώς ( lagōs , "hare"). Originally assigned to the genus Lepus , the European rabbit was consigned to its own genus in 1874 on account of its altricial young, its burrowing habits, and numerous skeletal characters. It

1872-602: The Azores , Madeira , and Canary Islands . The oldest known fossils of the currently living European rabbit species, Oryctolagus cuniculus , appeared in the Middle Pleistocene age in southern Spain. The first identifiable fossils from Oryctolagus appeared during the Miocene epoch, and species such as O. laynensis , a presumed ancestor of O. cuniculus , and O. lacosti were recorded from 3.5 Mya up until

1944-614: The Bern Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats . Natura 2000 is also a key contribution to the Program of Work of Protected Areas of the Convention on Biological Diversity . As a prerequisite for joining the EU, accession states have to submit proposals for Natura 2000 sites meeting the same criteria as EU member states. Some new member states have large areas which qualify to be protected under

2016-592: The European Communities adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. The Habitats Directive complements the Birds Directive adopted in 1979, and together they make up the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. The Birds Directive requires the establishment of Special Protection Areas for birds. The Habitats Directive similarly requires Sites of Community Importance which upon

2088-545: The European Union . It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive , respectively. The network includes both terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas . The Natura 2000 network covered more than 18% of the European Union's land area and more than 7% of its marine area in 2022. In May 1992, the governments of

2160-957: The European hare and mountain hare , and lacks black ear tips, as well as having proportionately shorter legs. An adult European rabbit can measure 40 cm (16 in) in length, and weigh 1.2–2.0 kg (2.6–4.4 lb). The hind foot measures 8.5–10 cm (3.3–3.9 in) in length, while the ears are 6.5–7.5 cm (2.6–3.0 in) long from the occiput . Size and weight vary according to food and habitat quality, with rabbits living on light soil with nothing but grass to feed on being noticeably smaller than specimens living on highly cultivated farmlands with plenty of roots and clover. Pure European rabbits weighing 5 kg (11 lb) and upwards are uncommon, but are occasionally reported. One large specimen, caught in February 1890 in Lichfield ,

2232-879: The hispid hare ( Caprolagus hispidus ), the riverine rabbit ( Bunolagus monticularis ), and the Amami rabbit ( Pentalagus furnessi ). The following cladogram is from Matthee et al., 2004, based on nuclear and mitochondrial gene analysis. Nesolagus (striped rabbits) Poelagus (Bunyoro rabbit) Pronolagus  (red rock hares) Romerolagus (volcano rabbit) Sylvilagus (cottontails) [REDACTED] Brachylagus  (pygmy rabbit) Caprolagus (hispid hare) Oryctolagus  (European rabbit) [REDACTED] Bunolagus (riverine rabbit) Pentalagus  (Amami rabbit) Lepus (hares) [REDACTED] In 2005, six subspecies were recognised in Mammal Species of

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2304-465: The lower jaw or neck . It is a secondary sex characteristic in rabbits, caused by the presence of female sex hormones. They develop with puberty . A female rabbit who has been neutered before reaching sexual maturity will not develop a dewlap, and even if a doe is neutered after developing a dewlap, the dewlap will gradually disappear over several months. This also aligns with the results of injecting male rabbits with female sex hormones, specifically

2376-441: The weaning period. European rabbit kits are born blind, deaf, and nearly naked. The ears do not gain the power of motion until 10 days of age, and can be erected after 13. The eyes open 11 days after birth. At 18 days, the kittens begin to leave the burrow. Sexual maturity in bucks is attained at 4 months, while does can begin to breed at 3–5 months. A dewlap is a longitudinal flap of skin or similar flesh that hangs beneath

2448-540: The European Commission committed to raise awareness about the network and biodiversity in general with the public. In order to raise awareness about the Natura 2000 network, 21 May has been designated “Natura 2000 Day”. This precedes “International Day for Biological Diversity” on 22 May. The initiative came from SEO/BirdLife who sought and received funding from the EU LIFE+ programme in order to improve

2520-468: The European rabbit is made up of soft down hair covered by stiff guard hairs , and is generally greyish-brown, though this is subject to much variation. The guard hairs are banded brown and black, or grey, while the nape of the neck and scrotum are reddish. The chest patch is brown, while the rest of the underparts are white or grey. A white star shape is often present on kits' foreheads, but rarely occurs in adults. The whiskers are long and black, and

2592-506: The Habitats Directive), dates back to the days climate change was not an issue and the concept of ecosystem services had not been well developed. Hence, in international law literature Kistenkas raised the question the habitats assessment was originally not designed for striking a balance of all relevant ecosystem services or to involve climate change into the assessment. Although well protecting nature conservation objectives,

2664-567: The Latastei viper ( Vipera latastei ). The traditional architecture of the region is a distinct mountain style, especially in Ermelo and Lamas de Olo, influenced by the sociological and artesanal nature of the landscape, or in Fervença, influenced by agrarian necessity along a terraced landscape. Natura 2000 Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of

2736-694: The Netherlands as the EU Court (C-293/17 and C-294/17, ECLI:EU:C:2018:882) ruled on agriculture nearby Natura 2000 sites. In some other member states, such as Bulgaria , there was criticism a project had not been well communicated in advance. This led to construction in the Kaliakra zone of Bulgaria, including wind turbines and a golf course. Land owners have then been told they may not use their land in certain ways, otherwise non-compliance procedures would be used against Bulgaria. This led to protests by

2808-718: The Olo watershed in the parish of Ermelo. The transition between the two is marked by a sudden drop associated with the Fisgas waterfall. Much like a great part of the Transmontana region, PNAL is situated within the Maciço Antigo ( Ancient Massif ), within the Galiza-Trás-os-Montes subregion, a geomorphological unit of igneous and metamorphic rock formed by Hercynotype movements orienting the first groups along

2880-585: The Rabbit , which is credited by Richard Adams as having played a key role in his gaining "a knowledge of rabbits and their ways" that informed his novel Watership Down . The other group was the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia , where numerous studies of the social behavior of wild rabbits were performed. Since the onset of myxomatosis, and

2952-563: The World : Genetic studies undertaken in 2008, however, indicate only two extant subspecies, O. c. algirus and O. c. cuniculus , native to the Iberian Peninsula, where most of the European rabbit's evolutionary history is centered; as of 2023, only these two subspecies are recognized . O. c. algirus and O. c. cuniculus occupy the south-west and north-east regions of the peninsula, respectively, naturally coming in contact in

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3024-460: The agreement of the European Commission become Special Areas of Conservation to be designated for species other than birds, and for habitat types (e.g. particular types of forest, grasslands, wetlands, etc.). Together, Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation form the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. The Natura 2000 network is the EU contribution to the " Emerald network " of Areas of Special Conservation Interest set up under

3096-402: The amount of guard hairs relative to regular pelage. Melanists are not uncommon in mainland Europe , though albinoes are rare. The skeleton and musculature of the European rabbit, like other leporids, is suited to survival by rapid escape from predators. The hind limbs are an exaggerated feature, being much longer and capable of producing more force than the forelimbs; their growth and use

3168-598: The appearance of O. cuniculus 0.6 Mya. However, the European rabbit was the only member of its genus to survive to the Late Pleistocene , whereupon it spread from the Iberian Peninsula to the Mediterranean and northern Europe. Palaeoichnological evidence exists of European rabbits burrowing in and disturbing what are likely Neanderthal burial sites. The European rabbit is smaller than

3240-460: The banks of the river, along with species of Common hazel ( Corylus avellana ), holly ( Ilex aquifolium ), chestnut, and laurel, forming mixed forests that include rare plants such as Sundew ( Drosera rotundifolia ), a species of carnivorous plant found in the moist lands along the riverfront. The Olo River is rich in trout and is populated by the Eurasian otter ( Lutra lutra ). Throughout

3312-468: The bare-earth characteristic of burrow entrances. While kits sleep in chambers lined with grass and fur, adults sleep on the bare earth, likely to escape dampness, with warmth being secured by huddling . Although both sexes dig, does do so more skillfully, and for longer periods. The European rabbit is a relatively quiet animal, though it has at least two vocalisations. The best-known is a high treble scream or squeal. This distress call has been likened to

3384-425: The conditions in each biogeographical region; thus selected sites represent species and habitat types under similar natural conditions across a suite of countries. Each Natura 2000 site has a unique identification form called a standard data form. This form is used as a legal reference when assessing the management of the species and habitats through the concept of favourable conservation status. The Natura 2000 Viewer

3456-555: The cry of a piglet. This sound is uttered when in extreme distress, such as being caught by a predator or trap. During the spring, bucks express contentment by emitting grunting sounds when approaching other rabbits. These grunts are similar to shrill hiccups , and are emitted with the mouth closed. Aggression is expressed with a low growl. The European rabbit's ideal habitat consists of short grasslands with secure refuge (such as burrows, boulders, hedgerows, scrub, and woodland) near feeding areas. It may dwell up to treeline , as long as

3528-738: The decline of the significance of the rabbit as an agricultural pest, few large-scale studies have been performed and many aspects of rabbit behaviour are still poorly understood. Because of its non-British origin, the species does not have native names in English or Celtic , with the usual terms "cony" and "rabbit" being foreign loanwords . "Rabbit" is also pronounced as rabbidge , rabbert ( North Devon ) and rappit ( Cheshire and Lancashire ). More archaic spellings include rabbette (15th–16th centuries), rabet (15th–17th centuries), rabbet (16th-18th centuries), rabatte (16th century), rabytt (17th century) and rabit (18th century). The root word

3600-483: The directives, and implementation has not always been simple. The Natura 2000 sites are selected by member states and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The Special Protection Areas are designated directly by each EU member state , while the Special Areas of Conservation follow a more elaborate process: each EU member state must compile

3672-598: The dominant buck and doe—which enjoy better nesting and feeding grounds—tend to grow larger and stronger and become more dominant than those born to subordinate rabbits. Not uncommonly, European rabbits mate again immediately after giving birth, with some specimens having been observed to nurse previous young whilst pregnant. Female European rabbits may become pregnant at three months of age, but do not reach their full reproductive ability until they are two years old, after which they remain able to reproduce for 4 more years. Female European rabbits nurse their kits once

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3744-521: The feet are fully furred and buff-coloured. The tail has a white underside, which becomes prominent when escaping danger. This may act as a signal for other rabbits to run. Moulting occurs once a year, beginning in March on the face and spreading over the back. The underfur is completely replaced by October–November. The European rabbit exhibits great variation in colour, from light sandy, to dark grey and completely black. Such variation depends largely on

3816-641: The framework, in order to contribute to the conservation of habitats and their respective species of flora and fauna considered under threat within the European Union. The park is located in the Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro provinces, in the district Vila Real , divided between the municipalities of Vila Real (parishes of Borbela , Lamas de Olo and Vila Marim ) and Mondim de Basto (parishes of Ermelo  [ pt ] and Bilhó ), occupying an area of 7220 hectares or 72.2 square kilometres (27.9 sq mi). The highest peak in natural park

3888-464: The infringement procedures against member states show. While designation of sites may be near complete, the management and enforcement of protection on sites is less advanced and many sites lack management plans. Natura 2000 faced criticism from developers, farmers and politicians who fear that the conservation of habitats and species places a brake on development. In 2013, there were 251,564 km (97,129 sq mi) designated as Natura 2000 in

3960-465: The knowledge of this network. In 2013, the first Natura 2000 day took place with the aim to raise awareness of citizens about the importance of Natura 2000 network in their lives. Since then, every May 21 and the weeks before, awareness actions take place all over Europe. For example, in 2014, school children and politicians across the EU were encouraged to make a butterfly gesture and post photos on social media to raise awareness. The Natura 2000 Award

4032-403: The land is well-drained and shelter is available. The size and distribution of its burrow systems depend on the type of soil present. In areas with loose soil, it selects sites with supporting structures, such as tree roots or shrubs to prevent burrow collapse. Warrens tend to be larger and have more interconnected tunnels in areas with chalk than those in sand. In large coniferous plantations,

4104-422: The land-owners. Germany Latvia Natura 2000 in the global context European rabbit Lepus cuniculus Linnaeus, 1758 The European rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) or coney is a species of rabbit native to the Iberian Peninsula ( Spain , Portugal and Andorra ) and southwestern France . It is the only extant species in the genus Oryctolagus . The European rabbit has faced

4176-402: The main warren, thus making themselves vulnerable to fox or badger predation. In the European rabbit's mating system , dominant bucks exhibit polygyny , whereas lower-status individuals (both bucks and does) often form monogamous breeding relationships. Rabbits signal their readiness to copulate by marking other animals and inanimate objects with an odoriferous substance secreted though

4248-532: The marine environment. The network in marine areas is not considered complete and acknowledged by the Commission as a "key challenge for EU biodiversity policy in the coming years". Natura 2000 sites can vary considerably in character. They are not strictly protected in terms of how they are allowed to be used by people. Many sites are farmed, forested and some are even in urban areas. Other areas are much wilder. The European Commission developed guidelines on

4320-489: The nest after 18 days. Much of the modern research into wild rabbit behaviour was carried out in the 1960s by two research centres. One was the naturalist Ronald Lockley , who maintained a number of large enclosures for wild rabbit colonies, with observation facilities at Orielton, in Pembrokeshire , Wales. Apart from publishing a number of scientific papers, he popularised his findings in a book The Private Life of

4392-404: The ones from pregnant women's urine . The male rabbits developed dewlaps, which then gradually disappeared once administration had ceased. While it is unclear exactly what function a dewlap performs, pregnant female rabbits will pluck fur from their dewlaps shortly before giving birth to line a nest for their young. The European rabbit's burrows occur mostly on slopes and banks, where drainage

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4464-441: The other half of the calendar year . A succession of 4 to 5 litters (usually three to seven kittens each, on average five) are produced annually, but in overpopulated areas, pregnant does may lose all their embryos through intrauterine resorption. Shortly before giving birth, the doe constructs a separate burrow known as a "stop" or "stab", generally in an open field away from the main warren. These breeding burrows are typically

4536-432: The rabbit eats them whole, while the hare tends to leave the peel. Depending on the body's fat and protein reserves, the species can survive without food in winter for about 2–8 days. Although herbivorous , cases are known of rabbits eating snails . Like other leporids, the European rabbit produces soft, mucus-covered faecal pellets, which are ingested directly from the anus . The soft pellets are produced posterior to

4608-434: The rabbit increases its food intake, selecting the parts of the plant with the highest nitrogen content. Hungry rabbits in winter may resort to eating tree bark . Blackberries are also eaten, and captive-bred European rabbits have been fed on fodder consisting of furze and acorns , which can lead to considerable weight gain. The European rabbit is a less fussy eater than the brown hare. When eating root vegetables ,

4680-865: The rabbits' maturation process, and help ensure survival of the population. Females tend to be more territorial than males, although the areas most frequented by females are not defended. Territories are marked with dung hills. The size of the species' home range varies according to habitat, food, shelter, cover from predators, and breeding sites, though it is generally small, encompassing about 4 ha (9.9 acres). Except during times of low rabbit density and abundance of high-quality food, male ranges tend to be larger than those held by females. The European rabbit rarely strays far from its burrow; when feeding on cultivated fields, it typically only moves 25 m (82 ft) away from its burrow, and rarely 50 m (160 ft). It may, however, move as far as 500 m (1,600 ft) after an abrupt change in environment, such as

4752-461: The region, bird populations are diverse and include nesting pairs of Golden eagles . Mammal populations are marked by the presence of Wild boar ( Sus scrofa ), Roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), European badger ( Meles meles ), Granada hare ( Lepus granatensis ) and European rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ). Among reptiles in the area are the Iberian emerald lizard ( Lacerta schreiberi ) and

4824-559: The relation between Natura 2000 and wild areas which are thought to make up around 13% of the network. This was in response to a report by Members of the European Parliament in 2009 which called for further protection of Europe's wilderness. The Natura 2000 network is not well known among European Union citizens; only 11% of citizens knew what it was in 2013. As part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy ,

4896-599: The species only occurs on peripheral areas and along fire breaks and rides. The European rabbit eats a wide variety of herbage , especially grasses , favouring the young, succulent leaves and shoots of the most nutritious species, particularly fescues . In mixed cultivated areas, winter wheat is preferred over maize and dicotyledons . During the summer, the European rabbit feeds on the shortest, and therefore less nutritious grass swards, thus indicating that grazing grounds are selected through antipredator considerations rather than maximising food intake. In times of scarcity,

4968-845: The subspecies O. c. habetensis , were likely introduced by Phonecians navigating the Mediterranean Sea ; they are considered to be O. c. cuniculus , as are most other populations in regions the European rabbit was introduced to. Domesticated . Introduced to the British Isles , Central , Southern and Eastern Europe , Australia , New Zealand , Chile , Africa , and several Atlantic and Pacific islands cnossius (Bate, 1906) fodiens (Gray, 1867) habetensis (Cabrera, 1923) kreyenbergi (Honigmann, 1913) vermicula (Gray, 1843) vernicularis (Thompson, 1837) Native to Portugal and southern Spain . [REDACTED] Introduced to

5040-425: The summer it is dry and warm. Most rain occurs in the colder months, while during the dry periods there is little rainfall, or concentrated in one month. The variation in slope allows for a diverse microclimate, with different vegetation between high and low altitudes. The combination of microclimatic conditions and rainfall has resulted in a lush landscape. Oak trees dominate the major elevated areas, especially along

5112-726: Was launched by the European Commission in 2013, with the first prizes awarded on Natura 2000 Day in 2014. The annual Award aims to raise awareness about the Natura 2000 network, showcase excellence and encourage networking between people working on Natura 2000 sites. It awards prizes to those working on the management of or to raise awareness about Natura 2000 in five award categories: Conservation; Socio-Economic Benefits; Communication; Reconciling Interests and Perceptions; Cross-Border Cooperation and Networking. In its first year, winners were selected from Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Belgium and Spain. The Natura 2000 legislation, notably with its habitats-test (or: habitats assessment, Article 6 of

5184-428: Was weighed at 2.8 kg (6 lb 2 oz). Unlike the brown hare, the male European rabbit is more heavily built than the female. The penis is short, and lacks a baculum and true glans ; the testicles , which are located in scrotal sacs to each side of the penis, can be retracted into the abdomen when food is scarce or when sexually inactive. Rudimentary nipples are also present in male rabbits. The fur of

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