Venezuelan lowland rabbit
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The Venezuelan lowland rabbit (Sylvilagus varynaensis) (Template:Langx), also known as the Barinas wild rabbit (Template:Langx),[1] is a cottontail rabbit species found in western Venezuela.[2]
Taxonomy
The Venezuelan lowland rabbit was described in 2001 by Durant and Guevara. In their account, they noted that the new species had much larger body measurements from the regionally known tapeti (Sylvilagus brasiliensis), and smaller tail lengths than any local population of eastern cottontail (S. floridanus). The holotype, a female specimen collected in 1989 from Sabaneta, Barinas, Venezuela, is kept at the University of the Andes in Mérida.[3]
There are no subspecies of the Venezuelan lowland rabbit, and its closest relative is the tapeti.[1] It may have some genetic relationship to the eastern cottontail,[4] but it is not included in several modern phylogenetic analyses.[5][6]
Diet
Its diet consists in large measure of plants of the genus Sida.[7]
Habitat
It is found in lowland savannas close to dry forests within the Llanos ecoregion[7] across Barinas, Portuguesa, and Guárico.[1]
Description
It is the largest of the rabbits known from South America within its species distribution, which is shared at least partially with the tapeti and the eastern cottontail. Its length and weight is greater than both, but the length of the Venezuelan lowland rabbit's palate is shorter than that of the eastern cottontail. The palate of the tapeti is smaller than that of the Venezuelan lowland rabbit. It has a tawny-colored nose,[1] buff-colored cheek, above-eye, and external ear regions, and reddish fur on the back of the head to the nape, with white-furred rings around the eyes.[3] Head and body length is about 44 cm, with females being slightly larger.[7]
Breeding
Reproduction takes place over three quarters of the year, with an average of 2.6 embryos per litter, but most commonly during September through December. The gestation period is 35 days.[7]
Threats
Possible threats to the species include habitat destruction by deforestation and agricultural conversion, competition with grazing livestock and hunting.[7] They are parasitized by adult and larval stages of roundworms, as well as flatworms in genus Taenia, but negative effects on the host rabbit have not been observed.[1]
References
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- ↑ Template:MSW3 Lagomorpha
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