Definition

Proper noun (Biology/Taxonomy): * The taxonomic genus containing the European rabbit: Genus Oryctolagus is the scientific name for the biological genus that includes a single extant species, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). It is classified within the family Leporidae (rabbits and hares).

Usage

• This term is used exclusively in scientific and zoological contexts to refer to this specific taxonomic group.
• It is always capitalized and typically italicized in formal writing.

Examples

• Scientific Classification: "The domestic rabbit is descended from the wild species within ."
• Zoological Text: "A key characteristic of is its burrowing behavior."
• Comparative Biology: "Researchers compared the digestive systems of and (cottontail rabbits)."

Advanced Usage

• Taxonomic Hierarchy: The term is used to specify an organism's precise placement in biological classification: Kingdom > Phylum > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species.
• Binomial Nomenclature: The genus name forms the first part of a species' two-part scientific name, as seen in .

Variants and Related Words

• Oryctolagus cuniculus (n.): The full scientific name (binomial name) for the European rabbit, the only living species in this genus.
• Leporidae (n.): The biological family that includes the genus , along with other genera of rabbits and hares.
• Lagomorph (n.): The order (Lagomorpha) to which this genus belongs, which also includes pikas.

Synonyms

• Taxonomic synonym: There are no common English synonyms for this precise scientific term. In non-scientific contexts, one might refer to "the European rabbit genus."

Different Meanings

• This term has only one specific meaning in modern English: the taxonomic genus for the European rabbit. It does not have general or figurative meanings.

Noun

1. Old World rabbits