The lutie is a descendant of rabbit. The lutie lives in direct competition with the ancient groups of small rodents - the mice and voles. In some areas the luties have replaced the rodents completely, whereas in other parts of the woodlands, where the conditions particularly favour them, the rodents have remained successful. The luties resemble the small rodents in many respects, particularly in size, but their rabbit ancestry is obviously displayed in the shape of the head and tail. They feed mostly at night, nesting during the day in crevices among tree roots or in holes in the ground. The lutie's large rabbit-like ears betray its ancestry.