Venezuelan lowland rabbit

Venezuelan lowland rabbit
Conservation status

Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Genus: Sylvilagus
Species: S. varynaensis
Binomial name
Sylvilagus varynaensis
Durant & Guevara, 2001
Venezuelan lowland rabbit range

The Venezuelan lowland rabbit (Sylvilagus varynaensis), also known as the Barinas wild rabbit, is a cottontail rabbit species found in western Venezuela.[2] Its diet consists in large measure of plants of the genus Sida.[1] It is found in lowland savannas close to dry forests within the Llanos ecoregion.[1] It is the largest of only three leporids known from South America.[2] Head and body length is about 44 cm, with females being slightly larger.[1] 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.[1] Possible threats to the species include habitat destruction by deforestation and agricultural conversion, competition with grazing livestock and hunting.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Durant, P. & Guevara, M.A. (2008). "Sylvilagus varynaensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hoffman, R. S.; Smith, A. T. (2005). "Order Lagomorpha". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.