The
European rabbit or
common rabbit (
Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a species of
rabbit native to southwestern
Europe (
Spain and
Portugal) and northwest
Africa (
Morocco and
Algeria). It has been widely introduced elsewhere, often with devastating effects on local
biodiversity. However, its decline in its native range (caused by the diseases
myxomatosis and
rabbit calicivirus, as well as overhunting and habitat loss), has caused the decline of its highly dependent predators, the
Iberian lynx and the
Spanish imperial eagle. It is known as an
invasive species because it has been introduced to countries on all continents with the exception of Antarctica and sub-Saharan Africa, and caused many problems within the environment and ecosystems.
Australia has the most problems with European rabbits, due to the lack of natural predators there.