Tonic immobility in feral and domestic dutch rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttalli), and whitetail jackrabbit (Lepus townsendi) as a function of posture

Abstract

Durations of tonic immobility in back, side, front, and sit postures were collected from domestic and feral rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttalli), and hare (Lepus townsendi). The results suggest that there is a similarity in the immobility behavior displayed by the three genera of Leporidae. All of the animals would remain immobile when placed in the different postures. Overall durations of immobility were longer in the wild animals than in the domestic animals. Longest durations of immobility in rabbits occurred when they were placed in the back posture, while durations tended to be longer in cottontail and hare placed in the front posture. The wild animals also showed less spontaneous activity in the test situation than the domestic animals. The results seem consistent with the idea that immobility behavior in response to restraint might serve an anti-predator function.