Lop Rabbit

Lop Rabbit or lop-eared rabbit refers to any rabbit with ears that droop, as opposed to being carried erect. The lop rabbit's ear carriage is its distinguishing characteristic. The majority of domestic rabbit breeds have erect ears, whereas lop types have loosely drooping ears, with the aperture of the ear facing the skull. The skull of many lop rabbits, with the exception of English Lops, contains a tiny bulge known as the crown because of the slightly raised cartilaginous ear base. According to legend, the head of a regular lop rabbit looks similar to a male sheep from the side.

Given that rabbits are unable to sweat, their close-to-the-surface blood arteries serve as a crucial thermoregulator. Ears may droop because the remainder of the ear structure cannot always adequately support the extra weight of a longer or thicker ear. Some newborn lop rabbits' ears may not develop their full adult droop until after the ear growth is complete. A lop rabbit's deformed ears impede them from detecting predators and from keeping a normal body temperature. These two drawbacks prevent them from living in harsh outdoor environments.