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| English Lop |
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| About the English Lop: |
The English Lop originated in Algiers, Africa and is visible in hieroglyphics from ancient African cultures. Due to the equatorial heat of the area and the cooling system of rabbits, the ears of English Lops bred to grow in length. Hence, the English Lop's most defining characteristic is its ears. With typical lengths of 18 to 25 inches the English Lop has the longest ears in the American Rabbit Breeders Association (A.R.B.A.).
Rabbits cannot sweat to stay cool. To keep from overheating, rabbits must circulate blood through their ears. By doing this, the temperature of the blood decreases before it goes back into the blood stream, hence the need for long ears in extremely warm areas. As the temperatures of the Algiers lengthened the rabbit's ears, the weight also increased. This caused them to fall from their original erect position. This trait soon developed into a genetic trait, and was passed to offspring.
Duting the 1900s, English Lops were specifically bred for their long lop ears. The English Lop has inspired many more breeds, including the French Lop, Mini Lop, Holland Lop, American Fuzzy Lop, and the Velveteen Lops. In the 1950s and 1960s, there was a large demand for English Lops in America. American breeders tried to improve their bone structure by breeding them them with Flemish Giants. Inbreeding caused weak bones, bowed legs, pigeon breast, along with other genetic defects. Though these defects were part of the English Lop generation of the 1970s some dedicated breeders have restored the English Lop to what we see today.
English Lops are very popular today not only for their ears, but also for their temperaments. The English Lop is a kind and gentle bunny, with hardy eating habits. They are usually willing to be held due to having one of the best temperaments in the rabbit family.
English Lops are not for beginning rabbit owners because extra caution need to be exercised while caring for their large ears. |
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| Information Provided By: |
| Photo Provided By: |
| Official Website: Lop Rabbit Club of America |
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