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Lop rabbit

Lop rabbit or lop-eared rabbit refers to any rabbit with ears that droop, as opposed to being carried erect. A number of rabbit breeds (listed below) are characterized by such lop ears. Abnormalities in the skull of a half-lop rabbit were studied by Charles Darwin in 1868.

Erect ears (the most common): Both ears are carried upright. Such ears may at times rest atop the rabbit's back, or be temporarily smoothed down by the rabbit when it bathes or grooms itself.

Full lop ears (less common): Both ears hang fully down, brushing the rabbit's cheeks and shoulders. Such ears may gently undulate as the rabbit hops.

Half lop ears (uncommon): One ear is carried in a full (or nearly-full) droop, while the other ear is carried erect. Similar in appearance, a now-extinct one-eared rabbit—said to resemble a unicorn—was breeding true around the end of the 18th century, and in 1958 two such healthy specimens were photographed.

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Oar lop ears (uncommon): Both ears are carried roughly horizontal to the ground and out over the rabbit's shoulders. The term comes from the resemblance to a boat's oars at rest. In modern times, these are sometimes referred to as helicopter ears.

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Horn lop ears (rare): Both ears are carried roughly horizontal to the ground and out over the rabbit's nose. The term comes from the resemblance to the forward-facing horns of some cows.

Rabbits are known to carry their ears in one of five ways:[2]

List of rabbit breeds