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Volcano Rabbit

 
Animal Encyclopedia: Volcano rabbit
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Romerolagus diazi

TAXONOMY

Romerolagus diazi (Ferrari-Pérez, 1893), San Martin Texmelusán, Mexico.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Zacatuche; French: Lapin des volcans; German: Vulkankaninchen; Spanish: Conejo zacatuche, teporingo.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

One of the smallest leporids; body length 10–14 in (27–36 cm), weight 14–18 oz (400–500 g). The ears are short and the hair is dark brown, and it lacks a visible external tail.

DISTRIBUTION

They occur only on the slopes of the Mexican volcanoes, Ajusco and Ixtacihuatl; Popocateptl at 9,190–13,120 ft (2,800–4,000 m).

HABITAT

Open pine forests with a unique grass habitat, zacaton.

BEHAVIOR

Vocalizations resemble those of pikas. Mainly active during the days.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Feeding on the typical zacaton grasses.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Assumed promiscuous. Average litters size one to three. Breeding season December–July.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Listed as Endangered by the IUCN an U.S. Endangered Species Act. Also listed on CITES Appendix I. A very restricted distribution close to Mexico City.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Threatened by habitat destruction, forest fires, agriculture, and property developments. Hunting is now illegal.

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Wikipedia: Volcano Rabbit
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Volcano Rabbit[1]
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Genus: Romerolagus
Merriam, 1896
Species: R. diazi
Binomial name
Romerolagus diazi
(Ferrari-Pérez, 1893)

The Volcano Rabbit also known as teporingo or zacatuche (Romerolagus diazi) is a small rabbit that resides in the mountains of Mexico. It is the world's second smallest rabbit, second only to the Pygmy Rabbit. It has small rounded ears, short legs, and short, thick fur. The Volcano Rabbit lives in groups of 2 to 5 animals in burrows. Unlike many species of rabbits (and similar to pikas), the Volcano Rabbit utters very high-pitched sounds instead of thumping its feet on the ground to warn other rabbits of danger. It is nocturnal and is highly active during twilight, dawn and all times in between. The Volcano Rabbit weighs approximately 390–600 g (14–21 oz). As of 1969, there were 1000 to 1200 in the wild.

Contents

Habitat

The Volcano Rabbit lives in Mexico. The rabbit has been pushed into areas on the slopes of the Iztaccíhuatl, Pelado, Popocatepetl, and Tlaloc volcanoes. The Volcano Rabbit is generally found between elevations of 2800 m and 4250 m in pine forests with a dense undergrowth of bunch grass and rocky terrain called the transverse neovolcanic axis.

Diet

The Volcano Rabbit feeds on green leaves in zacaton grasses, the undeveloped leaves of spiny herbs and the bark of alder trees. During the rainy season, it will also eat oats and corn from crops.

Decline

The most serious threats to the Volcano Rabbit are habitat degradation and target shooting.[2]

Habitat management

The IUCN/SSC Lagomorph Specialist Group has created an action plan for this rabbit (Fa & Bell, 1990). The plan focuses upon the need to manage the burning and overgrazing of the zacaton habitats and to enforce laws prohibiting the capture, sale and hunting of the animal. Studies are recommended into the geographical range, habitat relationships, population dynamics and life history (Fa & Bell, 1990). In addition, habitat restoration and the establishment of zacaton corridors to link core areas of habitat are needed. Captive breeding colonies exist at Jersey Zoo, UK and Chapultepec Zoo, Mexico City (Olney & Ellis, 1993).

References

  1. ^ Hoffmann, Robert S.; Andrew T. Smith (2005-11-16). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds). ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd edition ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 207. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3. 
  2. ^ a b Lagomorph Specialist Group (1996). Romerolagus diazi. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 2006-05-05. Listed as Endangered (EN A1abc+2bc, B1+2bcd+3abc, C1+2a v2.3)
  • McCollum, Austin. "Volcano Rabbit." Endangered Species of the World. April 13, 2006: 50-51.

External links


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Animal Encyclopedia. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Copyright © 2005 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Volcano Rabbit".  Read more