Have you ever heard of or seen a hairless rabbit sometimes referred to as a naked rabbit? Do bunnies with no hair even exist? Have you ever seen a rabbit with no hair?
We research these fascinating bunny questions (especially on cold winter nights) and provide you with the answers!
Yes, bunnies with no hair do exist. All rabbits are born hairless with eyes shut. But for a naked adult rabbit its all about the genes:
- A rabbit with two dominant hair genes (FF) will have “normal” hair.
- A rabbit with one hair gene and one recessive, hairless gene (Ff) will likely have a bald patch that later grows in.
- A rabbit with no hair gene, meaning it has two recessive, hairless genes (ff) will be a hairless rabbit.
Here at Hobby Farm Heaven we think the hairless rabbits are kind of cute. However, many people think they are ugly.
Whether you think they are cute or ugly, the rabbits with no hair are surely rare!
Here is a site that has documented a few cases from around the world: Hairless Rabbits
Why Are Some Rabbits Hairless?
This Institute of Agricultural Economics study showed that inbreeding also leads to more pairing of recessive genes, which leads to disorders such as hairlessness or patchy hair.
Officially the condition of a rabbit having no or little hair is referred to as congenital hairlessness or hypotrichosis. Actually, hypotrichosis means less hair than normal and likely some irregular hair formations such as bald spots or thin hair.
We also see the congenital hairlessness or hypotrichosis being referred to as congenital alopecia.
We note that alopecia can also be brought on by stress – Why Is My Bunny Losing Hair?
Additionally, the hairless gene, resulting in a hairless rabbit , appears to be more common in the rex breeds.
The genetically hairless rabbits seem to be born weaker and less hardy than their siblings. A literature review reveals that because they are born weaker and often with some dental issues, the hairless bunnies tend to have a shorter life span than the average furry bunny.
This video highlights the most famous hairless bunny in the world – Mr. Bigglesworth!
Final Thoughts on Bunnies With No Hair
It has been hard to find good scientific data about the bunnies with no hair. Most of the information is in the form of observations made by owners who have had a hairless rabbit. As a result, most of the information is somewhat anecdotal.
It seems that the scientific side of analyzing hairless rabbits has focused on the genetics; the specifics of the pair of fur genes.
In short, it is understood that a rabbit having one recessive fur gene and one dominant fur gene leads to initial hairlessness, or thin hair, which eventually seems to grow into full or nearly full fur.
However the rabbit with two recessive fur genes is the true hairless rabbit and over time its fur will not grow in more, and will not thicken.
Bunnies with no hair tend to have problems with their teeth, which leads to problems with eating, which leads to problems with consuming enough nutrients to grow and stay healthy and strong.
Alternatively, to learn about long haired bunnies you can click here: Long Haired Bunnies!