[History of the rabbit and ancient DNA]

Present populations of Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are organized into two well defined groups A and B according to their mitochondrial DNA sequences. Group A is restricted to the South Western part of the Iberian Peninsula while group B is found everywhere else. Domestic breeds belong to the latter. As evidenced from data on ancient bones (up to 12,000 years BP) the mitochondrial type B1, predominant in domestic animals, originated from Spain. B1 animals were introduced in France by man between late Roman times and Middle Ages.