Volcano rabbit
Volcano rabbit ( Romerolagus diazi )
The volcano rabbit ( Romerolagus diazi ) is a mammal of the family of hares ( Leporidae ). It comes exclusively in the mountain region in the central part of Mexico before, mainly in the area of the volcanoes Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl, how it got its name derives.
Features
With a head -body length of 27 to 32 centimeters and a weight of 400 to 600 grams, the volcano rabbit is one of the smallest members of its family. His coat color is uniformly dark brown, the ears are short and rounded, the tail is missing.
Dissemination
The distribution area of the volcano rabbit is restricted to the mountainous region in the central part of Mexico before, mainly in the area of the volcanoes Popocatépetl, Iztaccihuatl, El Pelado and Tlaloc. The total area of the distribution area is about 386 square kilometers. Historically the area was slightly larger and the species is gone, among others, on the eastern slopes of Iztaccihuatl and the Nevada de Toluca, also, the area decreases progressively.
The height distribution of the species is 2800-4250 meters, but the highest density located at altitudes 3150-3400 meters.
Way of life
Its habitat are pine forests with dense undergrowth, mostly in 2800-4200 meters above sea level. Volcano rabbits are mainly crepuscular, they spend the rest in construction. These burrows are up to 5 meters long and often have multiple outputs. Often two to five animals share a common construction. Among themselves, the animals communicate with high Quietschtönen, reminiscent of the pikas, and drums with the hind paws. The food of animals consists of grasses and herbs.
Can volcano rabbits throughout the year bring about the youth to the world, the culmination of births is in the rainy summer. The gestation period is around 38 to 40 days, litter size is one to four ( average of two ) pups. These spend the first weeks of life under construction, but take it after three weeks solid food and are self-employed with a month.
System
Pikas ( Ochotonidae / Ochotona )
Busch rabbits ( Poelagus marjorita )
Rotkaninchen ( Pronolagus )
Stripe rabbit ( Nesolagus )
Volcano rabbit ( Romerolagus diazi )
Wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Bristle rabbits ( Caprolagus hispidus )
Bushman Hare ( Bunolagus monticularis )
Ryukyu Rabbit ( Pentalagus furnessi )
Cottontail rabbits ( Sylvilagus )
Dwarf rabbits ( Brachylagus )
True hares (Lepus )
The volcano rabbit is assigned as a distinct species and monotypic genus the rabbit ( Leporidae ). Within the species, no subspecies are distinguished. The first description of the species was made in 1891 by Fernando Ferrari - Pérez diazi as Lepus. Clinton Hart Merriam in 1896 described the genus Romerolagus and described in the type Romerolagus nelsoni, which is now synonymized with the volcano rabbit. The first use of the current species name comes from Gerrit Smith Romerolagus diazi Miller from 1911.
On the basis of molecular biological data has been of Conrad A. Matthee et al. 2004, a cladogram developed that represents the phylogenetic relationships of the genera within the bunnies to each other. Accordingly, the volcano rabbit a taxon consisting of the rights hares ( genus Lepus ), the cottontail rabbit ( genus Sylvilagus ), the domestic rabbits, wild rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus), the bristle rabbits ( Caprolagus hispidus ), the Bushman Hare ( Bunolagus monticularis ) and the Ryukyu rabbits ( Pentalagus furnessi ) compared.
Threat and protection
Although the species is protected in Mexico, it is sometimes still hunted. But the main threat is the conversion of their habitat in fields and pastures, their range is now divided up into three small spots. The IUCN lists the volcano rabbit as threatened ( endangered ).