We retrospectively analyzed the reproductive variables and the spontaneous malformations in the historical control data from the embryo‐fetal development studies conducted in our laboratories with Kbl:JW rabbits over two decades (1990–2010) and fetal malformations induced by thalidomide in 1988, 1995 and 2007. These analyses in the control animals revealed that the reproductive variables in dams, total frequencies and profile of external, visceral and skeletal abnormalities and/or variations in the fetuses were stable over two decades. In addition, the characteristics of the malformations induced by thalidomide were reproducible at the three time points. Therefore, it is concluded that Kbl:JW rabbit is one of the useful rabbit strains to evaluate the effects of test substances on embryo‐fetal development, especially in view of the chronological stability of spontaneous or drug‐induced malformations in the fetuses.