Minks Vs Rabbits Research Paper

Our rabbit, which measured twenty-two inches in length by six inches in width, beared a few similarities to the minks we previously dissected. Taxonomically, minks and rabbits are quite different; whereas rabbits are of the order Lagomorpha and Leporidae family, minks belong to the order Carnivora and Mustelidae family (Animal Diversity Web). Despite these differences, however, their internal structures were composed rather similarly.

For example, both the mink’s liver and the rabbit’s liver were located directly under the diaphragm, though the rabbit’s diaphragm was markedly thinner than that of the mink. The largest internal organ in both animals, the liver seemed disproportionately larger in the rabbit than in the mink. Obviously the rabbit was bigger than all of the minks, but most of the organs in the rabbit seemed to be proportionally larger. This was not the case with the liver; rather …show more content…
The rabbit we dissected had sixteen ribs, not unlike some of the minks others dissected, and the heart and lungs were located near each other, but the heart’s location was different. In the mink, the lungs covered the heart, and one had to peel back the lungs in order to observe it. Conversely, in the rabbit, the heart was located partially in front of the lungs, and its inner tissues were not as easily visible as those of the mink were. Also, as with the stomach, there was very little fatty tissue present on the outside of the heart.
With an almost identical internal structure of both of the animals, it wasn’t hard to find more similarities than comparisons. Each mammal was created with specific organs, such as the intestines and kidneys, to help them function throughout everyday life. Both the rabbits and the mink’s intestines were connected to the stomach, where food is digested. Although there were some minor differences in the physical arrangement, the job of the organs were still the