Various varieties of domestic rabbits are bred through selective breeding or natural selection. In this article, a few common breeds of rabbits that are recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association are listed along with brief descriptions. Different Types of Rabbits American This breed was standardized early in the 20th century. The two categories available are the blue and white. The sub-varieties available under this breed are as follows.

• American Fuzzy Lop: This breed was derived by breeding two Holland Lops, each carrying a recessive wool gene. The rabbits belonging to this breed have lopped ears and their body is covered with thick wool.
• American Sable: The rabbits belonging to this breed have different levels of sandy (sable) coloring.

Angora This breed consists of the oldest types of domestic rabbits that originated in Ankara, Turkey. The rabbits belonging to this breed are used for their long wool which is removed by shearing or plucking. The sub-varieties available under this breed are as follows.

• English Angora: This breed has been derived from French Angoras and are gentle in nature but require a lot of grooming.
• French Angora: This breed has guard hair on the surface and wool as an undercoat.
• Satin Angora: This breed is so named because of their extremely-soft, woolly texture. They are very easy to groom and the wool they produce is very strong.

Beveren This breed consists of the oldest and largest of the fur rabbits. The color of their coats can vary from blue, white, black, lilac, to brown. A rare variety in this breed is the Pointed Beveren, which have the same color, but have white-tipped hair. Blue of Ham This breed of rabbit was very popular during the first few decades of the 20th century but became extinct during the sixties. However, a Belgian breeder was able to recreate them by using offsprings. Britannia Petite These rabbits weigh about 2.5 lbs and are thought to have been derived from small, wild rabbits. They have a wild temperament and are not suitable as pets. However, if handled properly, they can be calm. American Chinchilla These rabbits are bred for their meat. They are hardy pets and do not require regular grooming. They have a medium-length body which is slightly curved. Their ears are straight and erect. They are also good breeders and on an average, their litter consists of 7-10 babies. Dutch These rabbits were originally bred in the Netherlands. The markings present on their body include a white wedge down the face, round, colored circles around the eyes, white markings on the hind feet, and a line extending under the belly. They make excellent pets, show rabbits, and do rather well in the sport of hopping. Himalayan This is a very old breed that is very common in the Asian countries in the Himalayan Mountains. They are the most widely distributed rabbits in the world. They are also known by many other names like Chinese, Russian, Egyptian, and the Black Nose. They are delicately-built and have a long body resembling a tube. They are famous for their general temperament. They make excellent pets especially for the children, and an ideal choice for a first time rabbit owner. Lionhead This is one of the newest breed of domesticated rabbits that originated in Belgium. They are believed to be a cross between a miniature Swiss Fox and a Belgian Dwarf. They have been so named because of their particularly long hair which surrounds the face, resembling the mane of a male lion. The other characteristics include a round head, and ears shorter than most breeds of rabbits. English Spot These rabbits are mostly white and have a butterfly mark on their nose, colored ears, and chains of colored spots along the sides, including a herringbone stripe down the back. These are a very active breed and require a minimum of two hours of running time every day. They are generally docile and make good pets. They also tolerate other pets like guinea pigs, cats, and dogs.