Simple question

[pinksalamander]

i'm sure everyone knows this but i don't:

why do bunnies noses twitch?

 

[Michaela]

I don't know either!onder:

:anyone:

 

[NZminilops]

It;s just how they sniff and breathe I think, as they don't/can't breathe through their mouths.

 

[ilovetegocalderon]

And I BELIEVE that no matter how still a bunny is, if its nose is still twitching then it isn't scared.

 

[maherwoman]

I've done some research on this before.

According to USATODAY.com:

"A rabbit twitches his nose to detect the faintest odor that might meandanger. He twitches it constantly — 20 to 120 times a minute — toexpose more sensing pads in his nose. With his 100 million receptors(compared with a mere 5 or 6 million that we humans have), he's wellequipped."

Here's a link to the site:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/aprilholladay/2005-03-04-wonderquest_x.htm

The question and answer are close to the bottom. I've readthat particular answer on a number of sites, so I know it'scorrect.

 

[pinksalamander]

Wow! It's kinda odd really But it makes sense!So he's opening up his nostrils 120 times a minute to get a better wiffof things!

 

[Pipp]

That explains the banana at 50 paces trick. :hbunnysmell:

 

[hunnybunny63]

pinksalamander wrote:

Wow! It's kinda odd really But it makes sense! So he'sopening up his nostrils 120 times a minute to get a better wiff ofthings!

lol seems like it!

 

[maherwoman]

Yeah, I know! I thought it sounded odd, too...but it does make sense!

I love how sometimes it seems they're acknowledging my lovey-doveywords to them from across the room with a few nose twitches.I think it's a form of communication sometimes, too...just like yeah,the ears are there to hear better...but they also are used incommunication (don't we know it!). I wonder if their nosetwitches are, too?

 

[pinksalamander]

It could be. I could be like "i heard what yousaid.. so lemme sniff a little more and i'll see if i can work out whatyou mean!"

 

[maherwoman]

Hehe...too cute, pinksalamander.

Hey, btw...don't know if I've ever asked this, but...where did you getyour username from? I have to know...every time I type itout, it makes me wonder.

 

[aurora369]

Another view on Rabbit nose wiggling:

http://www.paperglyphs.com/rabbits/rabbittalk.html

Here's a small quote that sums up the basics of her theory:

"A rabbit's nose is like a thermometer for how interested it is inwhat's being observed. The faster the wiggling, the more attentive oragitated the rabbit is. Nose wiggle signaling is generally only used byrabbits that are already moderately relaxed."

--Dawn