Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
LEPORIDAE - RABBITS AND HARES
Two species (one introduced) of rodent-like mammals with long tubular ears rounded at the tip and a small, bobbed tail. Short forefeet with 5 digits, hindfeet greatly elongated with four digits (the first digit is much reduced on both feet). First upper incisors large and grooved along midline, second upper incisors characteristically small and located behind first pair. Upper lip is cleft and mobile, nostrils can be closed. Pelage is long and smooth, though ears are more sparsely furred. The skin is thin and fragile. Rabbits move by jumping propelling themselves forwards with the enlarged hind limbs. They are generally solitary, sleeping in a shallow hollow on the ground. Areas regularly used by feeding rabbits are marked with small, ball-like faeces.
Skull: Long, narrowing towards snout. Small, rounded bullae, the auditory tube located dorsolaterally. Ovaloid brain case. Broad interorbital region with well-developed processes.
REFERENCES
Diaz MM & Barquez RM 2002 - Los Mamíferos de Jujuy, Argentina - LOLA
Emmons LH & Feer F 1999 - Mamíferos de los Bosques Húmedos de América Tropical - FAN Bolivia
Redford K 1992 - Mammals of the Neotropics Vol 2: The Southern Cone Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay - University of Chicago Press.
