Pentalagus furnessi (Stone, 1900)

Amami rabbit

Species recognized by The Integrated Taxonomic Information System external link, T Orrell (custodian) in 
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN) external link Showing: scientific names

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Biology

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ARKive external link
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Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008. Some rights reserved external link
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Very little is known about this 'primitive' member of the rabbit family. Unusually, the Amami rabbit is nocturnal, spending the day in simple dens dug into the heavy forest soil (3). Females give birth to a single offspring, although they may have two litters a year. The newborn rabbit is sealed into its rearing den whilst its mother forages for food; she only returns every two nights, excavating the den in order to nurse her young before sealing the hole again (3). Around 4 – 7 weeks later, the den is no longer sealed and the young rabbit will accompany its mother on her feeding trips (3).

Amami rabbits feed on a range of plants and fruits; particularly pampas grass in the summer months (4). Individuals are predominantly solitary and follow well-worn tracts through the forest undergrowth on their nightly foraging trips (3).

"Pentalagus furnessi (Stone, 1900)". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/311979". Accessed 14 Mar 2010.