Pygmy Rabbit

Pygmy Rabbit

Scientific classification
Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Genus: Brachylagus
Miller, 1900
Species: B. idahoensis

Binomial name
Brachylagus idahoensis
(Merriam, 1891)

The Pygmy Rabbit, Brachylagus idahoensis is a North American rabbit, and is one of only two rabbit species in America to dig its own burrow. The Pygmy Rabbit differs significantly from species within either the Lepus or Sylvilagus genera and is generally considered to be within the monotypic genus Brachylagus. Although it is listed as an endangered species in the Columbia Basin of the United States, the IUCN lists the species as lower risk. This is because the Columbia Basin population is a genetically distinct isolated relict population well on its way to evolving into a distinct subspecies, whereas the IUCN only considers species as a whole.

The Pygmy Rabbit is the smallest leporid in North America, with mean adult weights from 375 to about 500 grams (0.8 to 1.1 pounds), and a body length from 23.5 to 29.5 centimeters (9¼ to 11½ inches); females are slightly larger than males. The pygmy rabbit is distinguishable from other leporids by its small size, short ears, gray color, small hind legs, and lack of white fur on the tail.

The Pygmy Rabbit is typically found in areas of tall, dense sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) cover, and are highly dependent on sagebrush to provide both food and shelter throughout the year. The historic distribution of the Pygmy Rabbit included much of the semi-arid, shrub steppe region of the Great Basin and adjacent intermountain zones of the conterminous western United States, and included portions of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, and Washington.

The last male purebred Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit, found only in Douglas County, Washington, died March 30, 2006, at the Oregon Zoo in Portland. The last purebred female died in 2008. A crossbreeding program conducted by the Oregon Zoo, Washington State University and Northwest Trek is attempting to preserve the genetic line by breeding surviving females with the Idaho Pygmy Rabbit.

Listing Status
September 26, 2007 U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge granted litigant party Western Watersheds Project summary judgement remanding the United States Fish & Wildlife Service's "90-Day Finding" denying conservationist parties' Listing Petition. The petition sought legal protection for Pygmy Rabbit as "Endangered" or "Threatened".

The decision orders U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to prepare a new 90-day Finding within 90 days of the Summary Judgement.


References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org
2. 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. 194. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.
3. Lagomorph Specialist Group (1996). Brachylagus idahoensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 2006-05-11.
4. National Geographic - Editor's Note - January 2009
5. Captive breeding offers hope for near-extinct pygmy rabbits
6. Standard for Listing Petitions & Evaluation of Threats to the Pygmy Rabbit fulltext

Amami Rabbit

The Amami Rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi; Amami: osagi), or Amami no Kuro Usagi, also known as the Ryukyu Rabbit, is a primitive dark-furred rabbit which is only found in Amami Ōshima and Toku-no-Shima, two small islands between southern Kyūshū and Okinawa in Kagoshima Prefecture (but actually closer to Okinawa) in Japan. Often called a living fossil, the Amami Rabbit is a living remnant of ancient rabbits that once lived on the Asian mainland, where they died out, remaining only on the two small islands where they survive today.

The Amami Rabbit has short legs, a somewhat bulky body, rather large and curved claws, and is active at night. Its ears are also significantly smaller than those of other rabbits or hares. A forest-dweller, it apparently only has one (or sometimes two) young at once, which the mother digs a hole in the ground for them to hide in during the day. At night, the mother opens the entrance to the hole, while watching for predators (like venomous snakes), and then nurses its young, after which it closes the hole with dirt and plant material by thumping on it with its front paws. Amami Rabbits sleep during the day in hidden places, such as caves. Amami Rabbits are also noted for making calling noises, which sound something like the call of a pika; this makes them unique as most rabbits cannot make calling noises.

The Amami Rabbit is endangered, because of hunting, which ended when Japan gave the rabbit legal protection in 1921, but also because of deforestation and killings by dogs, cats, and other animals introduced by humans, which continue today. In particular, mongooses released by island residents to kill poisonous snakes have killed a large number of Amami Rabbits. Deforestation is also very harmful to the rabbits, especially as they are asleep during daylight, and will often be killed without being able to flee.

In July 2008, the Amami Rangers for Nature Conservation Office obtained a photograph of a feral cat carrying an Amami rabbit corpse (previously, other evidence, such as Amami rabbit bones and fur found in cat or dog droppings had already been found), prompting discussions on better ways to control pets.


References:

1. http://en.wikkipedia.org
2. 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. 206. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.
3. Lagomorph Specialist Group (1996). Pentalagus furnessi. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 2006-05-11. Listed as Endangered (EN A2b, B1+2bce, C1 v2.3)