Skull secrets: What 900 rabbit skulls reveal about adaptation

New research published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B reveals how rabbits physically adapt as they move between the worlds of domestication and the wild. By analysing more than 900 skulls from wild, pet and feral rabbits from around the world, researchers discovered that human influence and life in new environments has shaped rabbits in ways never seen in their wild ancestors.

What’s surprising? Rabbits don’t simply ‘go back’ to their wild form when they become feral. Instead, they display a mix of traits: some carried over from their domestic past, some retained from their wild heritage, and others completely new. We already know that introducing a new species can put huge pressure on native wildlife. This research highlights another layer of complexity: introduced species themselves can evolve rapidly in response to changing environments.

Congratulations to the authors – including CISS’s very own Thomas Nelson – for this fascinating contribution to our understanding of invasive species.

Read the full paper here.