Certainly! Here’s a detailed look at the rare and fascinating Amami Rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi):
🐇 5. Amami Rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi)
🔹 Overview
- Also known as the Ryukyu Rabbit, the Amami rabbit is a primitive, endangered rabbit species found only in Japan’s Amami Islands.
- It is considered a “living fossil” because it retains many ancestral traits that modern rabbits have lost.
🌍 Habitat & Range
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Amami Ōshima and Tokunoshima islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago, southern Japan |
| Habitat | Dense subtropical forests, particularly old-growth woodlands |
| Range | Extremely limited — endemic to just two islands |
🔍 Physical Characteristics
| Trait | Description |
|---|---|
| Size | 16–20 inches (40–50 cm) long |
| Weight | 4–6 pounds (2–3 kg) |
| Color | Dark brown to black fur |
| Ears | Short and rounded (unlike most rabbits) |
| Limbs | Short legs and strong claws for digging |
| Tail | Very small, barely visible |
🔸 Nocturnal and solitary, this rabbit is rarely seen in the wild.
🦴 Evolutionary Significance
- The Amami rabbit is a relict species, meaning it has changed little from its ancient ancestors.
- It’s the only living species in the genus Pentalagus.
- Shares traits with prehistoric rabbits from mainland Asia millions of years ago.
🍃 Diet
- Herbivorous: feeds on ferns, grasses, acorns, and plant shoots, mainly at night.
⚠️ Conservation Status
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| IUCN Red List | Endangered |
| Threats | Habitat loss (deforestation), introduced predators like mongooses and feral cats, roadkill |
| Protection Efforts | Legal protections in Japan; habitat conservation and predator control underway |
🐾 Behavior
- Builds burrows or uses natural crevices for shelter.
- Communicates using low-pitched calls, rare among rabbits.
- Females give birth in nests hidden in dense vegetation.
The Amami rabbit is a nationally protected species in Japan and a symbol of biodiversity conservation in the region.
Would you like to see photos or a distribution map of the Amami Rabbit?