| Andean tapeti | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Lagomorpha |
| Family: | Leporidae |
| Genus: | Sylvilagus |
| Species: | S. andinus |
| Binomial name | |
| Sylvilagus andinus (Thomas, 1897) | |
 | |
| Synonyms | |
Sylvilagus brasiliensis andinusThomas, 1897 | |
The Andean tapeti (Sylvilagus andinus) or Andean cottontail is a species of cottontail rabbit native to Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador. It was previously considered a subspecies of the common tapeti (Sylvilagus brasiliensis). It serves an important ecological role as a pervasive herbivore consuming a wide variety of plant species as well as an important food source for several predators. [2] Some characteristics of the species is a head and body length of 326-353 mm, a small tail 6-7% of its head and body length, long hindfeet of 64-81 mm, dusky appearance, a forehead suffused with brown, ashy gray cheeks and neck sides, and a whitish chin and belly. [2] Living at high elevations in the treeless Páramo of the Andes, analysis in 2017 confirmed that it is sufficiently distinct in both appearance and genetics to be considered a species in its own right. [3] Although widespread, it remains poorly known, as few studies have been conducted on its biology and habits as distinct from those of the tapeti [1]