This question comes from a discussion related to How do you groom an Angora Rabbit? it has been suggested that the Angora is not directly descended from the European rabbit, but rather a Turkish species. It was also suggested that as many as three wild species have been combined to create the domestic rabbit.
The Wikipedia article on domestic rabbits implies they all come from the European rabbit or common rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Several countries in Europe and Africa surrounding the Mediterranean Sea are listed in the article as native territory for the European rabbit.
The Angora is thought to come from Turkey (also on the Mediterranean Sea) but possibly from a different native source.
The Angora rabbit is thought to have originated from Ankara (formerly known as Angora) in Turkey... The characteristics of the Angora coat are caused by an autosomal recessive gene. ufaw.org
There are multiple references clearly stating that "wild and domestic rabbits can not interbreed", nor can any of the rabbit species interbreed with each other.
Domesticated rabbits ... cannot breed with cottontail rabbits or hares. hopperhome.com
Rabbits and hares are not the same. They differ genetically and do not interbreed in nature. Cottontails and domestic rabbits cannot interbreed. Nor can hares or jackrabbits interbreed with cottontails or domestic rabbits. bunnyworld.com
The various species of rabbits do not interbreedModern Livestock & Poultry Production By James Gillespie, Frank Flanders (2009)
To confuse the issue there are other references suggesting several species of rabbits have been domesticated.
Although species within Lagomorpha are derived from a common ancestor... Several species have been selected as domestic animals plosone.org
The following was offered of the wide spread heritage of the domestic rabbit:
Another link: bunnyhugga.com/a-to-z/general/history-rabbits.html It claims the french started domestication but there is evidence in many roman empire era ruins of rabbit pens including Pompeii. I remember seeing a picture one in National Geographic from the Pompeii excavations. – Critters post
But earlier in the same article:
There are currently more than 60 recognised breeds of domestic rabbit in Europe and America, all of them descended from the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), the only species of rabbit to have been widely domesticated. It is a seperate species from other native rabbits such as the North American jackrabbits and cottontail rabbits and all species of hares. www.bunnyhugga.com
There is room for confusion, in tracing the heritage of the domestic rabbit
Looking for answers with high quality reliable reference clearing indicating, that (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is the only wild rabbit in domestic rabbit heritage or identifying other wild rabbits that are included in domestic rabbit heritage.