the riverine rabbit ( bunolagus monticularis ) , also known as the bushman rabbit or bushman hare , is one of the most endangered mammals in the world , with only around 250 living adults .

this rabbit has an extremely limited distribution area , found only in the central and southern regions of the karoo desert of south africa 's northern cape province .

it is the only member of the genus bunolagus .

riverine rabbit

pictures : riverine rabbit # 1 ( 21 kb jpeg ) and riverine rabbit # 2 ( 24 kb jpeg ) ( riverine rabbit cons . proj . ) ; riverine rabbit # 3 ( 19 kb jpeg ) ; riverine rabbit # 4 ( 37 kb ) ( spec . cons . found . )
conservation the endangered wildlife trust has established a riverine rabbit programme to manage and coordinate the riverine rabbit conservation project , to maintain close relations with landowners and conservation authorities and to ensure the survival of the riverine rabbit and its habitat .
* * * the riverine rabbit is one of the world ' s rarest mammals .
the riverine rabbit ( bunolagus monticularis ) is the 13th most endangered mammal . . .
they captured a young riverine rabbit – proof it is successfully reproducing in this area . after taking genetic samples , the rabbit was released .
the fragmentation and degradation of the riverine rabbit ' s habitat due to agricultural development . ( b147 )
a newborn riverine rabbit is altricial . it is reared in a fur - and grass - lined burrow .
the riverine rabbit is classified as critically endangered ( cr ) on the iucn red list 2004 ( 1 ) .
in some parts of the world , declining rabbit populations have strained natural food chains . the european rabbit (
authenticated ( 11 / 06 / 07 ) by dr vicky ahlmann , riverine rabbit working group , endangered wildlife trust . urltoken
a riverine rabbit awareness programme has been instituted among the farmers of the central karoo . ( b605 . 8 . w8 )
the riverine rabbit weighs 1 . 4 - 1 . 9 kg ( 3 . 1 - 4 . 2 lb ) .
mammalmap added text to
the riverine rabbit according to mammalmap
on
bunolagus monticularis ( thomas , 1903 )
.
the riverine rabbit produces two types of droppings . at night , when the rabbit is active , hard pellets are deposited . during the day , droppings are soft and are reingested by the rabbit . in this way the riverine rabbit obtains vitamin b , produced by bacteria in its hind gut , and minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are recycled . ( collins 2001 )
pondhaas
, during the 1940s the curator of the kaffrarian museum offered a pound for each riverine rabbit brought to him .
in terms of cranial morphology , the riverine rabbit resembles the lepus capensis - cape hare . ( b605 . 8 . w8 )
the riverine rabbit is one of the species that live in the cape floristic region biodiversity hotspot ( cons . intl . ) .
most people won’t have an easy time trying to identify one type of rabbit from the other however the riverine rabbit is easily recognizable by the long brown stripes in its facial fur that run from its mouth right round to the back of its ears . among the features that define the riverine rabbit include big flexible ears and large lumpy hind feet , the fur of the riverine rabbit is mostly light brown with the exception of the belly and neck which is usually a creamy colored fur . the female riverine rabbit is the bigger of the species , weighing at around 1 . 8kg typically and most riverine rabbits are approximately 340 – 470mm long .
the riverine rabbit acts as an indicator species for these river zones as its extinction in many areas of its former natural distribution range indicates the degradation , fragmentation and loss of riverine vegetation . it is also a karoo flagship species and all efforts to conserve the riverine rabbit will be beneficial to other plants and animals in this ecoregion .
“with only around 400 individuals left in the wild , the riverine rabbit qualifies as one of the rarest mammals in southern africa . ”
a cape provincial nature conservation ordinance protects the riverine rabbit by banning either its hunting or capture . ( b605 . 8 . w8 )
* * * the riverine rabbit has an unusually low ( for rabbits ) breeding rate of only 1 - 2 young / year .
the riverine rabbit is nocturnal , feeding at night and resting during the day in forms , which it scrapes out under a bush .
in addition to the volcano rabbit of mexico , pygmy rabbits are the only north american rabbit that dig their own burrows .
has a limited ecosystem role . the riverine vegetation it feeds on is known to bind soil and regenerates as the rabbit feeds on it . this means that the riverine rabbit ' s feeding habbits indirectly prevents the soil from being washed away in floods ( duthie , 1987 ) .
the recent discovery of the riverine rabbit in the sanbona wildlife reserve and vaalkloof private nature reserve are positive signs for the survival of this species .
the riverine rabbit creates a subterranean shelter for its offspring ; it is the only species of the african rabbits to do so . ( b147 )
* * * a riverine rabbit awareness program among the farmers of the central karoo has been instituted . since the rabbit is found only on privately owned farms , its survival depends on the willingness of landowners to adopt farming methods to reduce over - grazing and other harmful practices in the sensitive riverine habitat . some karoo farmers have declared their farms natural heritage sites to protect the riverine habitat and rabbit . ( collins 2001 , yeld 1999 )
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endemic to south africa , the riverine rabbit is found in the semi - arid central , upper , ceres , and klein karoo regions ( 2 ) .
the riverine rabbit is predated upon by the african wild cat ( felis libyca , felis - ( genus ) ) . ( b605 . 8 . w8 )
this rabbit requires dense riverine vegetation and soft , deep alluvial soils stable enough for it to construct stable breeding burrows . ( n32 . 8 . w1 )
the riverine rabbit has a well - defined parietal bone ; this is one feature which distinguishes it from pronolagus , as the latter does not . ( b147 )
the riverine rabbit is predominantly a browser , eating flowers and leaves from shrubs . grasses are included in the diet when these are available in the wet season .
the most serious threat to the survival of the riverine rabbit is the fragmentation and loss of its unique habitat type . the destruction and modification of the karoo’s unique riverine habitats due to overgrazing and other agricultural practices has had a significant impact on the rabbit’s population over the past century . fertile riverine soil is preferred for cultivation . upwards of 65 % of the original riparian vegetation has been lost due to cultivation .
the endangered wildlife trust ' s riverine rabbit project is forging ahead with exciting rabbit research ,
says christy bragg , the manager of the conservation programme .
we are using mobile camera traps to detect and count these rare critters .
as the riverine rabbits depend on burrows for protection from predators the soil of their habitat has to be perfect and that is why the riverine rabbits are limited to the central and and southern border of the karoo desert . the foliage that is found in these areas of the karoo desert is excellent for the riverine rabbit’s needs but is subject to seasonal crop .
the riverine rabbit has more than its fair share : doekvoet , pondhaas , bushman’s hare , deelfontein hare , boshaas and vlei haas . and for science – bunolagus monticularis .
threats not long after its discovery in 1902 , the riverine rabbit was known as the ‘pondhaas’ because captain g . c . shortridge , the curator of the kaffrarian museum in king william’s town , offered a pound for each rabbit brought to him . there is no state - owned land protecting the riverine rabbit and its habitat and already two - thirds of its original habitat has been destroyed . most known habitat occurs on private land .
the riverine rabbit lives only in dense riverine scrub in the alluvial floodplains of the seasonal rivers in the central karoo desert . it is restricted to riverine scrub of 0 . 5 - 1 m ( 1 . 6 - 3 . 2 ' ) in height and to areas with soil types that allow stable burrows to be constructed . ( avery 1988 , stuart & stuart 1996 )
the riverine rabbits are slow breeders and when breeding season comes they may only produce one or two offspring , this is a very low amount considering that the riverine rabbits only live for around three years .
the riverine rabbit is native to the karoo desert in south africa and is classed as critically endangered due to loss of habitat from farming and agriculture . there is estimated to be only around 250 of this rabbits left in existence and coupled with the fact that these rabbits are very slow breeders compared to other types of rabbit ( the riverine rabbit only has around 3 - 4 offspring in a lifetime ) means that they are under a very real threat of extinction .
this rabbit was snapped in january this year . researchers are hoping camera traps will help them answer a crucial question : just how many riverine rabbits are out there ? image : drylands conservation programme
riverine rabbits , like other rabbits and hares , are often run over on roads . they also easily become prey to traps that are indiscriminately laid . stray dogs , hunters and the making of firewood along the riverbeds , which destroys the riverine rabbit’s natural habitat , threaten the survival of this small mammal .
most closely related to pentalagus furnessi ( amami rabbit ) , caprolagus hispidus ( hispid hare ) and the domestic rabbit ( oryctolagus cuniculus ) . ( n32 . 8 . w1 )
the film titled riverine rabbit was done by ogilvy cape town advertising agency for product : the sunday times newspaper ( brand : sunday times ) in south africa . it was released in jun 2008 .
the rabbit kitten weighs about 40 g at birth . ( b605 . 8 . w8 )
pygmy rabbits are on average the smallest rabbit , with large individuals weighing about 1 pound .
the chances of survival for south africa’s most endangered mammal , the riverine rabbit , looks even more desperate than has commonly been feared . the conservation status of this karoo rabbit has , according to the latest iucn 2002 red data list for endangered species , been raised from endangered to critically endangered .
the riverine rabbit , an inhabitant of the central karoo , lives in the ganna bush of the seasonal riverbeds of the districts of beaufort west , loxton , carnarvon , calvinia , sutherland , victoria west and fraserburg . contrary to what is commonly believed about rabbits , riverine rabbits breed very slowly . this rabbit is often confused with the shrub hare , rock rabbits and the cape hare that also live in the central karoo . the riverine rabbit , however , has distinctive long ears , a black - brown stripe on its lower jaw , and a dark fluffy tail , which is visible when it bounces away .
with the unpredictable rainfall pattern of the karoo , the condition of vegetation is most likely to play the dominant role in stimulating reproduction in the riverine rabbit .
( n32 . 8 . w1 )
riverine rabbits have a polygamous mating system . ( b605 . 8 . w8 , n32 . 8 . w1 )
is to protect its natural habitat . the dept . of environment and cultural affairs has started a project which encourages farmers to form conservancies for this rabbit . some karoo farmers have taken this step and declared their farms natural heritage sites to protect the riverine habitat and rabbit ( duthie , 1987 ) .
although the ongers river supports roughly 21 % of the remaining suitable habitat for this species , so far no evidence exists that the riverine rabbit is found in that area . ( b605 . 8 . w8 )
the riverine rabbit distribution range is roughly surrounded by the towns beaufort west in the south , brandvlei and williston in the north , touwsrivier and calvinia in the west and victoria west in the east .
* * * rabbits have traditionally not received much attention in africa . the riverine rabbit has been a notable exception . conservation efforts by the wildlife society of southern africa and the south african nature foundation , in concert with research activities , have done much to draw attention to its plight . a number of governmental and non - governmental organizations have joined together in the riverine rabbit conservation project to carry out important conservation work .
did you know ? that conversion of habitat for agriculture has been the major threat to the riverine rabbit ? more than 60 % of the original riparian vegetation where this species is found has been converted to cultivation .
it is ironic that rabbits are a symbol of fertility throughout the world . recent estimates suggest that 25 % of rabbit species worldwide are declining or endangered . examples of declining rabbit species include :
not all rabbit populations are under threat - - some threaten other species . read more here .
this most beloved creature is the poster bunny for conservation . experts say there may be no more than a few hundred left . not only is the riverine rabbit critically endangered , it is found only in the karoo .
the survival of the riverine rabbit now depends on the co - operation among the conservation organizations that are involved with the national riverine rabbit co - ordination committee , landowners , and the general public . a conservation plan of cape nature conservation and the northern cape nature conservation services , which is funded by wwf sa , focuses on the identification of all the areas where the rabbit and its optimal habitat may be found . appropriate management principles are also being laid down for these areas , and a comprehensive awareness campaign is part of the plan .
there are currently no riverine rabbits kept by zoos . several zoos support however an in situ conservation project for the species .
other threats to the rabbit ' s habitat include fragmentation of riverine vegetation through impoundments in river channels , weirs , cultivated and historic lands and habitat destruction due to firewood collecting .
( n32 . 8 . w1 )
helps humans in farming and can only be sustained if this rabbit continues to feed on this vegetation .
so what went wrong for the riverine rabbit ? over the past 70 years , more than two - thirds of its habitat has been swallowed up by agriculture or ruined by overgrazing . as its name suggests , the riverine rabbit ' s favoured haunts are the fertile floodplains of the karoo ' s seasonal rivers . . . the very same areas that have historically been most in demand for agriculture . with its riverine habitat ploughed over , the rabbit ' s numbers plummeted , an estimated decline of around 60 % over those decades . remaining populations clung to survival mostly on fragments of farmland , outside of protected areas and therefore vulnerable and difficult for conservationists to monitor . things were not looking good for bunolagus monticularis .
90 % of the rabbit ' s diet consists of karoo shrubs and the remaining 10 % of grasses .
the riverine rabbit has a dark brown stripe which runs
along the lower margins of the jaw towards the base of the ear .
no other lagomorph species in the southern african subregion share this characteristic . ( b605 . 8 . w8 )
the riverine rabbit is solitary with a polygamous mating system . males and females each maintain home ranges which are exclusive with regard to members of their own sex , with a male ' s home range overlapping with the home ranges of several females .
cape town - the critically endangered riverine rabbit – one of south africa’s 10 most endangered mammals – has taken a short hop away from the precipice of extinction , following the recent discovery of a new population in capenature’s anysberg nature reserve near laingsburg .
habitat riverine rabbits are very habitat - specific and are found in dense patches of riverine bush along seasonal rivers of the semi - arid central karoo . they are the only indigenous burrowing rabbit in africa and are dependent on deep and soft alluvial soils . to the south of the escarpment they are found in areas with sparse vegetation near seasonal rivers in both succulent karoo and renosterveld vegetation .
the drive started at 9pm and just after 11pm the young rabbit was found , and was caught by hand .
the riverine rabbit is a nocturnal species ; during the day it can be found resting under the shade of a bush , within a hollow excavation . ( b147 , b285 . w5c , b605 . 8 . w8 , n32 . 8 . w1 )
lives in dense riverine scrub along the seasonal rivers in the central karoo desert in the cape province of south africa ( mills , 1997 ) .
almost 68 % of the remaining riverine rabbit vegetation is found to be associated with an interconnected network of rivers .
these rivers include the sak , klein sak and riet , klein riet located within the central karoo . ( b605 . 8 . w8 )
irresponsible application of leghold traps ( steel - jawed gin traps ) and snares poses another significant threat to the riverine rabbit even though these devices are only aimed at problem animals such as the blackbacked jackal and caracal .
( n32 . 8 . w1 )
distribution map # 1 ( 14 kb gif ) ( african mammals databank 2004 ) distribution map # 2 ( 25 kb jpeg ) ( spec . cons . found . ) distribution map # 3 ( 60 kb jpeg ) ( riverine rabbit cons . proj . )
beloved , cute and rare , this rabbit has faced a constellation of challenges ever since agriculture started in the karoo .
the unique life history and specialized habitat requirements of this species have made conserving and restoring this small rabbit especially challenging .
the riverine rabbit’s range has been found to stretch far further south , in recent years , than its ‘traditional’ range around williston , fraserburg , carnarvon , victoria west and loxton . isolated populations have been detected around montagu , klaarstroom , touwsrivier , barrydale and prince albert .
this species is superficially similar to the lepus capensis - cape hare in terms of both external and cranial morphology . however , whereas the cape hare has a black and white tail , the riverine rabbit has a uniformly brown tail . ( b605 . 8 . w8 )
the endangered wildlife trust has set up the drylands conservation programme in nearby loxton which coordinates efforts to save this charming rabbit .
after some genetic samples were taken , the young rabbit caught at anysberg nature reserve was safely released . image : nkosinathi moyo
the riverine rabbit weighs up to 1 . 9 kg ( 4 . 2 lb ) . distinguishing marks include a distinctive white ring around each eye and a black stripe running from the corner of its mouth over its cheek . found in dense riverine scrub along the seasonal rivers in the central karoo desert in the cape province of south africa , its diet mainly consists of flowers and leaves ; grasses are included in the wet season . these rabbits are nocturnal and solitary , with a polygamous mating system and an unusually low breeding rate ( for a rabbit ) .
“the survival of the riverine rabbit as a unique species truly lies in the hands of our farming community , ” says kleynhans . conservancies are areas that are established through voluntary agreements among a number of landowners , most of whose farms border on each other , to manage their environment .
chocolate bunnies may be abundant this easter season , but some real - life rabbit species around the world are becoming increasingly rare .
it is thought that riverine rabbit young spend relatively long periods of time within the breeding stop before venturing out to forage independently ; such assumptions have been made based upon data collected on the weights of young wild juveniles ( 500 - 600 g ) . ( b605 . 8 . w8 )
since 2004 , more riverine rabbit populations have been discovered in the western cape in areas where the species’ occurrence wasn’t known . the newly discovered area stretches from klaarstrom ( southeastern central karoo ) to montagu and barrydale ( klein karoo ) as well as the ceres karoo . the habitat differs significantly from the typical riverine habitat which is found in the central and upper karoo above the escarpment and is very much dominated by renosterveld . ( v . 142 )
with so few riverine rabbits , years can pass before fieldworkers actually catch a glimpse of one , so it’s difficult to build up a picture of their habits .
nowak , r . 1997 .
bushman rabbit
( on - line ) . accessed nov . 18 , 2001 at urltoken .
farmers in the northern cape will soon follow this example and establish successful conservancies . landowners who want to get involved in the establishment of a riverine rabbit conservancy can contact chrizette kleynhans ( cnc ) at ( 044 ) 279 1739 or leon muller ( ncncs ) at ( 027 ) 341 - 1779 .
) which lives in seasonal riverbeds . the species is distinguished by its long ears , a black - brown stripe on its lower jaw , and a dark fluffy tail . unlike most rabbits , the riverine rabbit produces just one offspring per year and an estimated total of four offspring during its lifetime .
in addition , most remaining pygmy rabbit habitat—throughout its range—is currently grazed by livestock , which may reduce habitat quality for pygmy rabbits . in some areas , wildfires have destroyed remaining pockets of pygmy rabbit habitats . the temperature and frequency of these fires may increase by the invasion of the exotic annual grass , cheatgrass ; thus , it is more likely to destroy sagebrush stands . coyotes—important rabbit predators—have increased in number over the last few decades , presumably because of habitat changes . in addition , diseases like tularemia and sylvatic plague can decimate rabbit populations periodically .
this differs slightly in pentalagus furnessi - amami rabbit , with the molars sometimes being 2 / 3 . ( b147 , b623 . w3 )
) as a threatened or endangered species throughout its range . the rabbit is already listed as endangered in the columbia basin of washington state .
the riverine rabbits is a habitat specialist that occupies a very restricted and specialised niche : the discontinuous and dense vegetation on soft and nutrient - rich alluvial soils associated with the seasonal rivers of the karoo . riverine rabbits therefore function as a biological indicator for the river zones in the karoo , which are of enormous economical value for farmers . the extinction of riverine rabbits in many areas of its former distribution range in the northern and western cape is therefore indicative of the severe destruction , fragmentation and loss of this habitat .
the riverine rabbit has a typical rabbit shape but the body is more elongated and the ears are longer and more hare - like . distinguishing facial marks include a distinctive white eye ring around each eye and a black brown stripe along the sides of the lower jaw . the tail is uniformly brown and resembles a “pom - pom” . the coat colour is variable but is a reddish - brown shade grizzled with black , the underparts are a drab gray .
however , additionally : s ince 2004 more riverine rabbit populations have been discovered in the western cape in areas where the species’ occurrence wasn’t known . the newly discovered area stretches from klaarstrom ( southeastern central karoo ) to montagu and barrydale ( klein karoo ) as well as the ceres karoo . ( v . 142 )
sansinena m . j . , owiny d . , denniston r . s . , salamone d . , barry d . ( 2007 ) 52 initiation of pregnancies in south african riverine rabbit ( bunolagus monticulares ) by interspecies nuclear transfer using adipose - derived somatic cells . reproduction , fertility and development 20 , 106 - 107 .
the primary food source of the riverine rabbit are wild flowers and leaves of the karoo desert foliage that is common along the seasonal rivers however they have been known to feed on grass when the opportunity presents itself which is limited to the karoo desert’s wet season . the riverine rabbits are nocturnal and live a lonesome life only interacting in the breeding season and even though they live along they live in areas common to their kind and always exclusively of the same gender with borders on the opposite gender only slightly over lapping .
an endangered columbia basin pygmy rabbit juvenile born at the captive breeding facility at washington state university , pullman , washington , usa . photo : tara davila
studies on vegetation composition ( in terms of percentage cover , occurrence and plant heights and widths ) suggest that salsola glabrescens and lycium species are the dominant plants within the riverine rabbit ' s habitat , whilst other species including pteronia erythrocaetha , osteospermum spinescens , kochia pubescens and galenia procumbens are significant contributors . ( b605 . 8 . w8 )
the wildlife breeding and research centre in johannesburg supports the project by transporting for free all possible fresh material that can be collected from riverine rabbits , and keeping it in their genetic database .
but the technology doesn ' t come cheap . despite receiving some funding to help with its much - needed conservation work , the programme still needs financial help .
we are still in desperate need for funds for additional cameras ,
says bragg .
ideally , we need to have several batches of cameras working simultaneously throughout riverine rabbit habitat .
“people who are aware of such offences must report it as soon as possible , ” says kleynhans . the riverine rabbit’s natural habitat does not lie protected within formal conservation areas like nature reserves , but on the huge sheep farms in the karoo . that is why conservationists believe that the key to its survival lies in a network of conservancies supported by farmers .
it is the only african rabbit where the female prepares an underground burrow for her young . this nest is lined with grass and fur . ( nowak 1999 )
some camera traps were placed at the privately - owned sanbona wildlife reserve , only three hours’ drive from cape town . to everyone’s surprise , this 54 000 hectare reserve is home to several riverine rabbits .
“it is important to us to gather as much genetic material as possible , so that research can be done on specific genetic populations , diseases and the general condition of riverine rabbits , ” says kleynhans .
» hays , d . 2001 . 2001 addendum : washington state recovery plan for the pygmy rabbit . washington department of fish and wildlife olympia , washington . 24pp .
the riverine rabbit is one of southern africa’s most endangered mammals . its endangered status was first recognised in 1981 . during 2002 its conservation status upgraded to critically endangered . with an estimated 250 or less mature individuals in the wild today ( with less than 1500 in total ) the species is at an extremely high risk of extinction . the following factors have contributed to population reduction .
some rabbit species around the world are being squeezed out by known factors such as development and agricultural pressures . others are so little known that their conservation status is uncertain .
the riverine rabbit reaches a head - body length of 34 - 48 cm . the tail measures 7 - 11 cm . males weigh about 1 . 5 kg , females up to 1 . 9 kg . this rabbit has very long ears , a soft and silky coat and a light brown woolly tail with a black tip . distinguishing marks include a distinctive white ring around each eye and a black stripe running from the corner of its mouth over its cheek . the belly and throat are cream in colour and the short limbs have particularly thick fur .
provides many benefits for farmers . the riverine vegetation that the rabbit feeds on , causing this vegetation to regenerate , binds the soil and prevents it from being washed away in floods . also , this vegetation promotes filtration of rainwater to groundwater , which is a benefit for the farmer who uses windmills to draw up water for his livestock ( burton , 1987 ) . indirectly , the habitat of
this means that , according to all indications , there are no more than 250 adult riverine rabbits left , and that the population is showing a continued drop in numbers . according to these criteria there is also not a satellite population of more than 50 adults in existence . this estimate is very conservative measured against the estimate of 500 riverine rabbits world wide , which is generally accepted by conservationists who are actively involved in their protection .
» mcallister , k . r . 1995 . washington state recovery plan for the pygmy rabbit . wildlife management program , washington department of fish and wildlife , olympia , wa .
a network of conservancies for the riverine rabbit could create an extensive informal conservation area to protect remaining populations and potential habitat . as such a chain of neighbouring lands also protect ecosystems such as rivers , it could lead to an increase in other wildlife . the use of environmentally friendly farming methods is also encouraged , such as not sowing along the riverbeds , and using snares for problem animals selectively .
the home ranges of male riverine rabbits overlap with several female ranges , and cover an area of roughly 21 ha . female home ranges are smaller ( roughly 13 ha . ) and do not overlap . ( b147 )
in addition to monitoring the ' farmland ' populations , conservation groups now had new rabbit territory to keep an eye on , and lots of research to carry out to determine how the new population differs from riverine rabbits elsewhere . tracking small animals that are rare , elusive , well camouflaged and predominantly nocturnal is no easy task . . . which is why conservationists turned to technology to help them out .
distribution most of their distribution range falls outside the western cape province above the escarpment of the nuweveld mountains in the semi - arid central karoo . more populations of riverine rabbit have recently been discovered south of the escarpment in the districts of touwsriver , montagu and barrydale , as well as at klaarstroom , immediately north of meiringspoort . ( records from friedmann and daly ( 2004 ) and the capenature biodiversity database ) .
high - pitched distress squeals are emitted by leporids when captured by a predator , and specific alarm calls are produced in five rabbit species . ( b285 . w5b , b430 . w2 )
differing from the usual rapid breeding of most rabbit species , the riverine rabbit produces just one kitten a year . in a polygynous mating system , males make use of their large home ranges to mate with every female in their territory ( 2 ) . between august and may ( 3 ) , the females will make a nest in a burrow lined with grass and fur , and blocked with soil and twigs ( 4 ) . they give birth to a helpless , blind and hairless kitten 35 days after mating ( 5 ) . this underdeveloped offspring will remain will its mother for some time before dispersing ( 2 ) .
this 2012 clio awards silver winning entry titled & apos ; riverine rabbit & apos ; was entered by tbwa \ hunt \ lascaris , johannesburg . the piece was submitted to the medium : out of home within the entry type : n / a and the category : poster . it consists of 1 image . this piece is part of a campaign called & apos ; the last ones left & apos ; that consists of 6 elements .
a pygmy rabbit hops out of its artificial burrow during a pilot reintroduction experiment conducted by washington state university designed to develop methods suitable for restoring extirpated populations . photo : rodney sayler , washington state university
» hays , d . , and k . warheit . 2004 . columbia basin pygmy rabbit captive breeding and genetic management plan . washington department of fish and wildlife . olympia , washington . 29pp .
in washington , management efforts by a number of agencies have included acquiring and restoring potential habitat for the endangered columbia basin pygmy rabbit—a slow and expensive task . because some pygmy rabbit habitat is contained within private lands , agencies have attempted to work with local ranchers and farmers to develop mutually beneficial resource management plans and safe harbor agreements . many private landowners are wary of having endangered species on their land and mistrust state and federal natural resource agencies , however , so this work has been sensitive and arduous . as a parallel course of action , and perhaps the last chance for saving the columbia basin pygmy rabbit 4 , washington department of fish and wildlife initiated a program in 2001 for captive breeding and restoration of pygmy rabbits , which is now a key component of the federal recovery plan for the columbia basin pygmy rabbit .
is an endangered species . the most devastating threat to the riverine rabbit is the loss of its habitat . this habitat is limited to the alluvial floodplains of seasonal rivers in the central karoo . these flood plains , only 100 - 200 m wide , are formed when the rivers overflow during floods , and deposit silt on their banks ( duthie , 1987 ) . this soil is very good for cultivation compared with other soils found in the dry karoo . over the past 50 years , more than two - thirds of its habitat has been ploughed over for this purpose . other threats to its survival include overgrazing and hunting . overgrazing of riverine habitat opens up cover that it needs for shelter and to escape predation .
is the only african rabbit that prepares an underground shelter for its young . this nest is 10 - 15 cm in diameter , 25 cm long , and lined with grass and fur ( nowak , 1997 ) .
this species resides in dense riparian vegetation along seasonal rivers ( b605 . 8 . w8 ) ; dense riverine bush / scrub . ( b147 , b285 . w5c , n32 . 8 . w1 ) in the central karoo region . ( n32 . 8 . w1 )
some rabbit species thump the ground with their hind feet when faced with danger ( b285 . w5b , b430 . w2 ) ; this reaction is thought to be a warning to nestlings underground . ( b285 . w5b )
) , for example , is a staple in the spanish lynx ' s diet . but a pox virus , myxomatosis , has raced through rabbit populations on the iberian peninsula , making them so rare that spanish lynx (
elsewhere , disappearing rabbits can signal declining health of grassland and sagebrush ecosystems . in the united states , a coalition of conservation groups is petitioning the u . s . government to list the palm - sized pygmy rabbit (
» federal register . may 20 , 2005 . endangered and threatened wildlife and plants : 90 - day finding on petition to list the pygmy rabbit as threatened and endangered . federal register 70 : 29 , 253–29 , 265 .
“for practical reasons it is not always possible to obtain bits of skin or blood from live rabbits , and we are dependent on the public who can supply or report any potential material , ” explains kleynhans . she therefore calls on anyone who comes across a dead riverine rabbit or some of its remains , even if it is only a small heap of bones , to contact her ( 044 - 279 - 1739 ) or dr vicky ahlmann ( 053 - 381 - 3107 ) , a german researcher in loxton .
» gahr , m . l . 1993 . natural history , burrow habitat use , and home range of the pygmy rabbit of sagebrush flats , washington . m . s . thesis , university of washington , seattle , washington .
i live outside montagu . we have two riverine rabbits who appear early morning to drink from the water containers we leave for other wild animals eg meerkatte , porcupines , steenbokkies , mountain tortoises etc . with the drought , our “water holes ” have become a gathering place for wild life .
as of 2001 , it was thought to occur in river catchments in the semi - arid south central karoo between beaufort west and williston , and sutherland and victoria west . it is found only on private farmland in riverine vegetation along seasonal river courses . ( ahlmann 2001 , cape nature conservation )
motion - activated camera traps are a great tool for determining the density of populations , in addition to providing important information about rabbit behaviour and habits . knowing more about the species is essential for developing effective conservation strategies . previous trials using camera traps have already shown success , and the technology is now being tested out on a larger scale . a new study launched at the start of this month involves camera traps set up in a specialised grid system to cover large swathes of rabbit territory .
pygmy rabbits are fed commercial and custom rabbit pellets consisting of grains , alfalfa , grass hay , vitamins , and minerals . each breeding facility grows fresh grasses and greens , and rabbits are provided with greenhouse - grown or wild - cut sagebrush ;
until recently , the status of pygmy rabbit populations in the u . s has received little attention . their range consists of the great basin and surrounding intermountain regions , including montana , idaho , wyoming , utah , nevada , northern california , oregon , and washington . there is one exception—the columbia basin pygmy rabbit . it was extirpated from the wild in washington by 2004 , and this genetically distinct population was listed by the u . s . fish and wildlife service as an endangered distinct population .
» federal register . march 5 , 2003 . endangered and threatened wildlife and plants ; final rule to list the columbia basin distinct population segment of the pygmy rabbit ( brachylagus idahoensis ) as endangered . federal register 68 : 10 , 388–10 , 409 .
the riverine rabbit is a solitary , nocturnal animal and rests during the heat of the day in shallow depressions scraped out under shrubs . the breeding rate is unusually low . breeding occurs between august and may . females dig stable burrows in the soft and deep soils in which they raise , after a pregnancy period of 35 days , one ( rarely two ) offspring per breeding season . the newborn rabbits are blind , hairless and completely dependent on their mother , whereas hare leverets can see and have fur at birth . the live span in the wild hardly exceeds 4 years .
african mammals databank 2004 , ahlmann 2001 , ahlmann 2002 , avery 1988 , burton & pearson 1987 , chapman & flux 1990 , collins 2001 , collins et al . / iucn 2003a , flux 2005 , iucn 2004 , cons . intl . , focus 1995b , iucn 1994 , iucn 1996 , iucn 2000 , iucn 2003a , kingdon 1997 , macdonald 1984 , macdonald 2001 , nowak 1999 , nowak & paradiso 1983 , riverine rabbit cons . proj . , silva & downing 1994 , spec . cons . found . , stuart & stuart 1996 , wwf wild world , yeld 1999
it has been reported that due to cultivation , the natural vegetation along nearly half of the rivers within the rabbit ' s range has been destroyed . the extent of the riparian habitat loss has exceeded 60 % . ( b147 , b605 . 8 . w8 )
the riverine rabbit is nocturnal , spending the night feeding on flowers , leaves and grasses , and the day in shallow depressions under bushes , hiding from predators such as black eagles . at night the droppings are firm , but during the day they are soft and are immediately eaten after deposition . this behaviour is known as coprophagia and occurs in rabbits as their digestive system is basic , and re - ingestion allows further extraction of calcium and phosphorous , as well as the absorption of vitamin b that is produced by the bacteria of the hind gut during the initial ingestion ( 2 ) .
“he was just a few kilometres from a private farm where we’ve been aware of a population for the past two or three years . he appeared to have been following the ( dry ) river course from this farm , so that also opens up a whole lot of other opportunities ( to find other riverine rabbits ) . ”
there may be just a few hundred and none are in protected areas , all are on private land ,
said smith . conservationists are working with landowners to develop protection plans for the rabbit , which the conservationists say will also help protect south africa ' s riverside ecosystems .
» shipley , l . . a . , t . b . davila , n . j . thines , and b . a . elias . 2006 . nutritional requirements and diet choices of the pygmy rabbit ( brachylagus idahoensis ) : a sagebrush specialist . journal of chemical ecology 32 : 2455–2474 .
» u . s . fish and wildlife service . 2007 . draft recovery plan for the columbia basin distinct population segment of the pygmy rabbit ( brachylagus idahoensis ) . portland , oregon . 118 . pp , urltoken ( accessed 1 / 10 / 08 ; updated 6 / 29 / 10 ) .
my name is cronje and i farm in the central karoo region in south - africa . over the last couple of years i have seen numerous riverine rabbits ( oewer koenyn , in afrikaans ) . i’m happy to report that the creatures are doing very well and i believe that their numbers are increasing . i’ll try and take a snap shot the next time i see one . . : )
this is a dark , grizzled grey rabbit , tinged rufous , with a contrasting deep rich rufous nape patch ( b147 ) and a dark brown stripe running along the lower margins of the jaw towards the ear base ( no other lagomorph species in the southern african subregion share this characteristic ) . ( b605 . 8 . w8 )
identification the riverine rabbit can reach approximately 52 cm in size and has large ears . it has a distinguishing dark brown band running along the side of the lower jaw upwards to the bottom of the ears . the upper parts are a grizzled drab grey while the sides are slightly darker and rufous where it blends with the dense grey hair on the underside . the eyes are encircled with white rings with dark elongated patches above these . the fringed inner margins of the long ears are covered with white hair , the outer margins with short buffy hair and the tips are covered with short black hair . the hair on the nape of the neck is slightly shorter and is a rich rufous colour . the grey - brown tail is short and fluffy , but darker towards the tip .
females give birth to their young into breeding stops which have been lined with grass and fur . ( b605 . 8 . w8 , n32 . 8 . w1 ) . the construction of these breeding stops is thought to be similar to those of oryctolagus cuniculus - european rabbit and ( sylvilagus transitionalis - new england cottontail . ( b605 . 8 . w8 )
lisa shipley , ph . d . , is a wildlife ecologist and associate professor in the department of natural resource sciences at washington state university . her research focuses on foraging behavior , nutrition , and habitat requirements of wildlife . she directs the pygmy rabbit captive breeding program at washington state university and is a member of the usfws recovery team for pygmy rabbits . urltoken
# gonehome campaign : a film by rabbit king . 3rd year students in vcd ( visual communication design ) made a series of short stop - motion animations as part of an integrated print , video and online environmental awareness campaign for the endangered wildlife trust , south africa . by : elza grobler , silvie van onselen , robin jones , jenna antrobus , simeon willemse , lila huyzers .
loss and degradation of habitat are the main threats to the species . over the last century , 50 - 80 % of habitat has been lost as a result of cultivation ( mostly in the past ) and livestock farming ( ongoing ) . other threats to the species include hunting ( the rabbit is hunted for sport and by farm workers ) , and accidental mortality in traps set for pest animals on farmlands .
this re - evaluation was done in march in johannesburg at a workshop of the conservation breeding specialist group , a partner of the endangered wildlife trust , during which the conservation status of 300 of southern africa’s mammal species was investigated . ten southern african mammal species are regarded as critically endangered . this includes the black rhinoceros , four kinds of mole , and two bat species . the populations of riverine rabbits and red bush squirrels are , however , the only southern african mammal species that are in such extremely dire straits world wide .
is easily identified by the black stripe running from the corner of its mouth over its cheek , a brown woolly tail , cream - colored fur on its belly and throat , and a broad , club - like hind foot . its tail is pale brown with a tinge of black toward the tip . its coat is soft and silky and its limbs are short and heavily furred ( nowak , 1997 ) . male riverine rabbits weigh approximately 1 . 5 kg while females weigh about 1 . 8 kg ( duthie , 1987 ) .
this elegant rabbit is one of the most endangered terrestrial mammals in southern africa . it has very long ears , a soft and silky coat and a uniformly brown , woolly tail . a distinctive black stripe runs from the corner of the mouth over the cheeks ( 2 ) , and it has white rings around the eyes ( 3 ) . the belly and throat are cream in colour and the short limbs have particularly thick fur ( 2 ) .
pygmy rabbits in washington state , however , have been particularly vulnerable . this population was separated from those in other parts of their range as sagebrush communities receded with climate changes . analysis of the rabbit’s genome suggests that the divergence of the washington population occurred between 15 , 000 and 115 , 000 years ago . because of long - term geographic isolation and local habitat fragmentation , the washington population exhibits significantly lower genetic diversity than the populations in neighboring states .
differences in pregnancy rate between columbia basin and idaho pygmy rabbits , and the extremely low genetic diversity of the columbia basin rabbits , suggested that inbreeding depression might have played an important role in low pregnancy rates . therefore , our second strategy was to begin a process of genetic rescue , where the columbia basin pygmy rabbits were intercrossed with idaho rabbits , aiming for creating and maintaining a captive and release population of greater than 75 % columbia basin genes . intercrossing required maintaining a balance between preserving the unique genetic profile of the columbia basin pygmy rabbit , while increasing the genetic diversity overall . rabbits from the two populations mated readily , and the intercross rabbits had higher pregnancy and siring rates ; thus , they produced more kits per adult than the pure columbia basin pygmy rabbits .
and then , late last year , an unexpected dose of good news . a new population of the rabbits popped up in a very different part of the karoo – and this time , the animals were hopping about on protected land , within the 81 , 000 - hectare anysberg nature reserve in south africa ' s western cape province . the species had been spotted in this part of the karoo before ( back in 2003 ) , but this was the first sign of the rabbits in a formally protected area anywhere in the country ( it ' s likely the rabbits had migrated there from a nearby farm ) . a night survey was set up to confirm the sightings and a young rabbit was caught , proving the animals were also doing what rabbits are supposed to do best : breeding .


it is native to south america .

belonion apodion

belonion apodion is one of two needlefish in the genus belonion , which is in the family belonidae .
collette , bruce b . 1966 . belonion , a new genus of fresh - water needlefishes from south america . american museum novitates ( 2274 ) : 1 - 22 .
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submitted as a cd - rom that meets the requirements of article 8 . 6 of the international code of zoological nomenclature ( 1999 )
special publication of the center for biodiversity research and information , no . 1 , vol 1 - 3
oviparous ( ref . 205 ) . eggs may be found attached to objects in the water by tendrils on the egg ' s surface ( ref . 205 ) .
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to cite this page : myers , p . , r . espinosa , c . s . parr , t . jones , g . s . hammond , and t . a . dewey . 2018 . the animal diversity web ( online ) . accessed at https : / / animaldiversity . org .
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carl , h . ( 2003 ) danish fish names . : zoological museum of copenhagen . unpublished .
chinese academy of fishery sciences ( 2003 ) chinese aquatic germplasm resources database . : urltoken
collette , b . b . ( 2003 ) family belonidae bonaparte 1832 - needlefishes . : calif . acad . sci . annotated checklists of fishes ( 16 ) : 22 .
collette , bruce b . , 2003 : family belonidae bonaparte 1832 : needlefishes . california academy of sciences annotated checklists of fishes , no . 16 . 1 - 22 .
eschmeyer , william n . , ed . , 1998 : catalog of fishes . special publication of the center for biodiversity research and information , no . 1 , vol 1 - 3 . 2905 .
froese , r . & d . pauly ( editors ) . ( 2018 ) . fishbase . world wide web electronic publication .
varjo , m . , l . koli and h . dahlström ( 2004 ) kalannimiluettelo ( versio 10 / 03 ) . : suomen biologian seura vanamo ry .
wu , h . l . , k . - t . shao and c . f . lai ( eds . ) ( 1999 ) latin - chinese dictionary of fishes names . : the sueichan press , taiwan . 1028 p .