Sumatran striped rabbit
The Sumatran rabbit ( Nesolagus nets cheri ) is a mammal of the genus strip rabbits among lagomorphs. It is endemic to the island of Sumatra, and is considered one of the rarest species of lagomorphs world.
Features
The Sumatran rabbit is similar in body size as the Sumatran introduced wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), with which it is often confused by locals. It has a head -body length from 36.8 to 41.7 inches. The basic coloration of the body is yellowish - brown and the pet has wide dark brown to black stripes running longitudinally through the body; However, these are individually different and may be absent. The belly, chin and the inside of the legs are white. The coat is short and soft.
The ears are relatively short with a length of 6.7 to 8.7 centimeters. They are black and rich tilted forward up to a maximum of sight. Compared to rabbits, the head is wider shorter nose and the legs are much shorter. The tail measures 1.7 inches and is so short that it is not visible under normal circumstances. It contains only 12 of bone, in contrast to the usual 19 to 24 of other species.
Distribution and habitat
The Sumatran rabbit is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is at seven localities, which lie mainly in the west - central and Barisangebirge in the southwestern part of the island. A review of 1972 comes from the National Park Gunung Leuser in the northwest of the island, another possible sighting of 1978 from around the Kerinchi.
The height distribution of the species is from 600 to 1600 meters. The preferred habitat of the species are remote mountain forests, the soil contains volcanic ash.
Way of life
The Sumatran Rabbit is strictly nocturnal and hide during the day in holes in the ground or residential buildings that were dug in general, by other animals. According to originate most of the rare sightings of silvicultural measures, where forest land has been converted into tea and coffee plantations. The diet consists of plants of the undergrowth in the forest. About the propagation of animals are no data.
System
The Sumatran rabbit is assigned as an independent species the stripes rabbits ( genus Nesolagus ). First described scientifically it was by Hermann Schlegel in 1880 as Lepus nets cheri. The classification in the distinct genus Nesolagus took place in 1899 by the Swiss Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major and it was up to the description of the Annamite rabbit strip in 2000 as the only species of the genus.
Threats and conservation
The Sumatran rabbit is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) since 2008 as threatened ( vulnerable ). The type and naturally occurring rare animal is classified as the awareness in the general population is very low. Between 1996 and 2008, the species was considered threatened with extinction ( critically endangered ), as only about a dozen museum specimens from the period 1880-1916 and only a few sightings are known. 1998, 1999, 2007 and 2008, the species was once each taken with a camera trap
Threats to the Sumatran rabbit go out mainly by the change of habitat by humans. The usable habitats on the island is estimated to be less than 20,000 km2 total area.