Sumatran striped rabbit

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Sumatran striped rabbit [1]
Sumatran Striped Rabbit Recontruction.jpg
A model of an adult
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Genus: Nesolagus
Species:
N. netscheri
Binomial name
Nesolagus netscheri
(Schlegel, 1880)
Sumatran Striped Rabbit area.png
Sumatran striped rabbit range

The Sumatran striped rabbit (Nesolagus netscheri), also known as the Sumatra short-eared rabbit or Sumatran rabbit, is a rabbit found only in forests in the Barisan Mountains in western Sumatra, Indonesia, and surrounding areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Contents

This rabbit was the sole representative of the genus Nesolagus until the Annamite striped rabbit was described in 2000.

Description

The Sumatran striped rabbit weighs 1.5 kg and is between 368 and 417 mm in total length, with a tail 17 mm long, skull length of 67–74 mm, hind foot length of 67–87 mm, and ear length of 34–45 mm. [3] It has black or dark brown stripes on a yellowish grey background that becomes rusty brown towards the rump; the fur on the underparts, on the inside of the legs and below the chin is whitish. The black ears are very short and when folded forward reach only to the eye. The limbs are grey-brown and the rumped tail is reddish. [3] [4] It can be differentiated from Oryctolagus cuniculus, which is sometimes kept in captivity in Sumatra and is of a similar size, by Oryctolagus's plain grey-brown fur lacking stripes and slightly longer ears. [5] Their fur is soft and dense, overlaid by longer, harsher hairs. [6]

Biology

As the species is rare, nocturnal and found only in remote forests, little is known about it. The local people do not have a name for the Sumatran rabbit because they are not aware that the species even exists. [7] Indeed, the vernacular terminology for "rabbit" in Indonesia is either borrowed from other languages to refer to foreign species of rabbit (arnab from the Arabic أرنب [8] and kelinci from the Dutch word konijntje [9] ) or not distinguished to that of felines (kucing e.g. kucing belanda or kucing tapai). [10]

The rabbit rests in the burrows of other animals. It usually eats the stalk and leaves of understory plants, but captive rabbits eat grain, and tropical fruits. [11]

Habitat and range

This species is said to be endemic and is native to the Barisan Mountains in northwest Sumatra, Indonesia. It has also been found in west and southwest Sumatra, and there is one record from Gunung Leuser National Park. [7] It lives in forests at altitudes of 600–1600 metres above sea level. It is one of the few lagomorphs that chooses to live in the dense rainforest. The Sumatran rabbit also prefers to live more specifically in montane forests with volcanic soil. [7]

Threats

The forests which the species inhabits are being cleared more and more for timber, tea and coffee plantations, and human inhabitation. [7]

Observation in the wild

Illustration of a Sumatran striped rabbit Sumatran striped rabbit illustration BeckyKidus.jpg
Illustration of a Sumatran striped rabbit

Following a sighting in 1972, the Sumatran striped rabbit went unreported until an individual rabbit was photographed in 2000. [2] Since then there have been three reports of this species, all from the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park: In January 2007 one was photographed with a camera trap, [12] [13] in September 2008 one was photographed by a WWF scientist, [14] and in June 2009 one was observed. [15] In 2011 examples were photographed in the wild by a scientific team using camera traps in Bukit Barisan Seletan and Kerinci Seblat National Parks. [16] In 2022 a farmer attempted to sell a live striped rabbit, opportunistically caught after a flash flood, on Facebook. Kerinci Seblat National Park authorities confiscated it and returned it to the wild. [17] In the 21st Century, it has been detected several times in Isau-Isau Wildlife Reserve. [18]

Conservation

The species is listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN. It is rarely seen and thought to be uncommon in its habitat; population size is unknown. Its rarity may be the result of deforestation and habitat loss. Attempts to start a conservation plan were not funded due to lack of reliable distribution and abundance information. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leporidae</span> Family of lagomorphs

Leporidae is the family of rabbits and hares, containing over 70 species of extant mammals in all. The Latin word Leporidae means "those that resemble lepus" (hare). Together with the pikas, the Leporidae constitute the mammalian order Lagomorpha. Leporidae differ from pikas in that they have short, furry tails and elongated ears and hind legs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Kerinci</span> Volcano in Sumatra, Indonesia

Mount Kerinci, also spelled Kerintji, is an active stratovolcano and the highest mountain in Sumatra, Indonesia. At 12,484 ft (3,805 m) above sea level, it provides Sumatra with the fifth-highest maximum elevation of any island in the world. It is surrounded by the lush forest of Kerinci Seblat National Park, home to several endangered species including the Sumatran tiger. Mount Kerinci is ranked 32nd by topographic isolation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumatran tiger</span> Tiger subspecies endemic to Sumatra

The Sumatran tiger is a population of Panthera tigris sondaica on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is the only surviving tiger population in the Sunda Islands, where the Bali and Javan tigers are extinct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunung Leuser National Park</span> National park in Sumatra, Indonesia

Gunung Leuser National Park is a national park covering 7,927 km2 in northern Sumatra, Indonesia, straddling the border of Aceh and North Sumatra provinces, a fourth portion and three-fourths portion, respectively. The national park, settled in the Barisan mountain range, is named after Mount Leuser (3,119 m), and protects a wide range of ecosystems. An orangutan sanctuary at Bukit Lawang is located within the park. Together with Bukit Barisan Selatan and Kerinci Seblat National Parks, it forms a World Heritage Site, the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annamite striped rabbit</span> Species of mammal

The Annamite striped rabbit is a species of rabbit native to the Annamite mountain range on the Laos-Vietnam border. The rabbit is striped, with a red rump, and resembles the Sumatran striped rabbit. It only recently became known to Western scientists: striped rabbits were first observed in 1996 by biologist Rob Timmins in a market in Bak Lak in Laos, and the species was described in 2000 and named after Timmins' find.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerinci Seblat National Park</span> National park on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia

Kerinci Seblat National Park is the largest national park on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. It has a total area of 13,791 km2 and spans four provinces: West Sumatra, Jambi, Bengkulu, and South Sumatra.

The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. It comprises three Indonesian national parks on the island of Sumatra: Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park and the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park. The site is listed under Criteria vii - outstanding scenic beauty; ix- an outstanding example representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes; and x- contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation. The Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra has been placed on the Danger List since 2011 to help overcome threats posed by poaching, illegal logging, agricultural encroachment, and plans to build roads through the site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumatran ground cuckoo</span> Species of bird

The Sumatran ground cuckoo is a large, terrestrial species of cuckoo. It was introduced to Western science in 1879 and was formerly considered conspecific with the Bornean ground cuckoo but was given status as a unique species in 2000. This elusive species was initially known from just eight specimens and evaded notice from 1916 until 1997, when it was rediscovered and photographed by Andjar Rafiastanto. The Sumatran ground cuckoo's diet is thought to consist of invertebrates, small mammals, and reptiles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park</span> National park in Sumatra, Indonesia

Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is a national park in Sumatra, Indonesia. The park located along the Bukit Barisan mountain range, has a total area of 3,568 km2, and spans three provinces: Lampung, Bengkulu, and South Sumatra. Together with Gunung Leuser and Kerinci Seblat national parks it forms a World Heritage Site, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra.

The Sumatran shrew-like mouse is a species of mouse. It is endemic to Indonesia.

Wijayarana modiglianii is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Sumatra (Indonesia). It was originally only known from two locations near Lake Toba, but is now known to be more widespread. The specific name modiglianii honors Elio Modigliani, an Italian anthropologist and zoologist who collected the holotype in 1891. Common name Modigliani's huia frog has been coined for this species. Morphological evidence suggests that it can hybridize with Huia sumatrana, but this needs confirmation using genetic data.

The Sumatran muntjac is a subspecies of Indian muntjac in the deer family which can be the size of a large dog. It was discovered in 1914, but had not been sighted since 1930 until one was snared and freed from a hunter's snare in Kerinci Seblat National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia in 2002. Two other Sumatran muntjac have since been photographed in the park. The Sumatran muntjac was placed on the IUCN Red List in 2008, but was listed as Data Deficient, as taxonomic issues are still unresolved. The distribution of the taxon is also uncertain and may be more extensive than suggested. It is possible that some previous sightings of the common muntjac in Western Sumatra were the Sumatran muntjac.

<i>Nesolagus</i> Genus of mammals

Nesolagus is a genus of rabbits containing three species of striped rabbit: the Annamite striped rabbit, the Sumatran striped rabbit, and the extinct species N. sinensis. Overall there is very little known about the genus as a whole, most information coming from the Sumatran rabbit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumatran tropical pine forests</span> Terrestrial ecoregion on Sumatra

The Sumatran tropical pine forests is a tropical coniferous forest ecoregion on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumatran clouded leopard</span> Sunda clouded leopard subspecies

The Sumatran clouded leopard is a subspecies of the Sunda clouded leopard and is native to the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Batu. It differs in molecular, craniomandibular and dental characteristics from the Bornean clouded leopard. It was recognized as a valid subspecies in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumatran lowland rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Sumatra, Indonesia

The Sumatran lowland rain forests ecoregion covers the lowland forests running the length of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The region is one of exceptionally high biodiversity, similar to Borneo and New Guinea islands. Many endangered mammals species are present, and over 450 species of birds have been found in the region. In recent years, illegal logging and human encroachment have put great strain on this ecoregion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumatran montane rain forests</span>

The Sumatran montane rain forests ecoregion covers the mountainous elevations of the Barisan Mountains Range that runs the length of the southwestern side of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The ecoregion is almost completely surrounded by the lower elevation Sumatran lowland rain forests. The area is one of very high biodiversity - because of the relative isolation, and variety of forest types, there are 7 endemic species of mammals and eight endemic species of birds.

The Sumatran hog badger is a species of mustelid endemic to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isau-Isau Wildlife Reserve</span> Wildlife reserve in Indonesia

Isau-Isau Wildlife Reserve is a nature reserve in South Sumatra, Indonesia. It is home to a large number of species, many of which are threatened or endangered. Formerly protected as Isau-Isau Pasemah Nature Reserve since 1978, the modern Wildlife Reserve was founded in 2014 and is managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of South Sumatra Province. The reserve is listed as IUCN Management Category IV.

References

  1. ↑ Hoffman, R.S.; Smith, A.T. (2005). "Order Lagomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 205. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  2. 1 2 3 McCarthy, J.; Holden, J.; Martyr, D.; McCarthy, K. (2019). "Nesolagus netscheri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T14662A45178557. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T14662A45178557.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 Flux, J.E.C. (1990). The Sumatran rabbit Nesolagus netscheri. (J.A. Chapman and J.E.C. Flux, eds.) Rabbits, hares and pikas: status survey and conservation action plan.: IUCN. pp. 137–139.
  4. ↑ Francis, C.M. (2001). A photographic guide to the mammals of South East Asia (including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Java, Sumatra, Bali and Borneo). London: New Holland Publisher. p. 128.
  5. ↑ MacDonald, David Whyte; Barrett, Priscilla (2002-01-15). Mammals of Europe. Princeton University Press. ISBN   978-0-691-09160-0.
  6. ↑ Nowak, Ronald M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World (Sixth ed.). Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1723. ISBN   9780801857898 . Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Flux, J. E. C. (1990). "The Sumatran Rabbit Nesolagus netscheri". Rabbits, Hares, and Pikas: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.
  8. ↑ "arnab". World Loanword Database (WOLD). Max Planck Digital Library. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  9. ↑ "kelinci". World Loanword Database (WOLD). Max Planck Digital Library. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  10. ↑ Wilkinson, Richard James (1901). "kuching". A Malay-English dictionary. Hong Kong: Kelly & Walsh, limited. p. 545.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  11. ↑ Gorog, Antonia. "Animal Diversity Web: Nesolagus netscheri". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology . Retrieved 2007-04-05.
  12. ↑ "Striped rabbit spotted in Sumatra". BBC News. 2007-04-05. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
  13. ↑ "World's rarest rabbit captured on film in Indonesian rainforest". Mongabay.com. 2007-04-14. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
  14. ↑ WWF Save Sumatra (2009) Rare rabbit species directly photographed. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  15. ↑ Dinets, V. (2010). "Observation of Sumatran striped rabbit (Nesolagus nescheri) in the wild". Mammalia. 74: 1. doi:10.1515/mamm.2009.074. S2CID   83737097.
  16. ↑ McCarthy, Jennifer L.; Fuller, Todd K.; McCarthy, Kyle P.; Wibisono, Hariyo T.; Livolsi, Mark C. (July 2012). "Using camera trap photos and direct sightings to identify possible refugia for the Vulnerable Sumatran striped rabbit Nesolagus netscheri". Oryx. 46 (3). Fauna & Flora International: 438–441. doi: 10.1017/S0030605312000051 .
  17. ↑ "Sensation in Sumatra – World's rarest rabbit spotted on Facebook".
  18. ↑ Setiawan, Arum; Iqbal, Muhammad; Susilowati, Octavia; Setiawan, Doni; Maharsi, Martialis Puspito Khristy; Yustian, Indra (2023-02-27). "Status of the Sumatran Striped Rabbit Nesolagus netscheri in Isau-Isau Wildlife Reserve, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 15 (2): 22746–22748. doi: 10.11609/jott.8113.15.2.22746-22748 . ISSN   0974-7907.
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