The act of a rabbit striking its hind legs against the ground is a significant form of communication within the species. This behavior, commonly referred to as thumping, serves as an alarm signal, alerting other rabbits in the vicinity to potential danger. An example includes a rabbit detecting a predator and vigorously thumping to warn its warren.
The effectiveness of this warning system relies on its immediacy and reach. Thumping generates a noticeable vibration and sound that can travel through the ground, allowing rabbits some distance away to receive the alert even if they cannot directly see the source of the threat. Historically, this has been a critical survival mechanism, improving the chances of evading predators and preserving the population.