• Question: Could rabbits evolve into a carnivorous?

    Asked by That one science guy to Laura, Matthew, Andrew on 20 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Matthew Camilleri

      Matthew Camilleri answered on 20 Nov 2014:

      Yes, but you have to really push hard for that to happen and not all rabbits would be able to eat meat. Once this trend is repeated over a few generations this will mean that the rabbits would have ‘evolved’ into eating meat. Whether or not they would revert to eating grass if put in the wild is a different stories, but over 50 generations (if they have survived eating meat only) they might even have modified their organs to deal with meat better.

    • Photo: Laura Schofield

      Laura Schofield answered on 20 Nov 2014:

      Yeah absolutely! Though it would take a really long time because they would not only have to change their tastes, but also their whole digestive system would need to evolve!! That would take some doing.

    • Photo: Andrew McKinley

      Andrew McKinley answered on 20 Nov 2014:

      It would take a really long time! And it would only happen if there was nothing else to eat.

      (Incidentally, and completely off topic, there is a gargoyle near St Nicholas Cathedral in Newcastle upon Tyne known as the “Vampire Rabbit” – google it – it’s great :D)

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