Hares and Rabbits (Leporidae)
Hares and rabbits
(Leporidae)
Class Mammalia
Order Lagomorpha
Family Leporidae
Thumbnail description
Small- to medium-sized mammals with long ears, short tails, and long hind legs
Size
10–30 in (25–75 cm); 14 oz–13.2 lb (400–6,000 g); females usually larger than males
Number of genera, species
11 genera; 61 species
Habitat
Forest, woodland, savanna, scrub, and tundra
Conservation status
Critically Endangered: 2; Endangered: 7; Vulnerable: 3; Data Deficient: 9
Distribution
Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Java, and other islands
Evolution and systematics
The Leporidae is sometimes divided into subfamilies Paleolaginae (Pentalagus, Pronolagus, and Romerolagus) and Leporinae (remaining genera). There are 11 genera: 32 Lepus, true hares; 1 Oryctolagus, European rabbit; 17 Sylvilagus, cotton-tails; 1 Brachylagus, pygmy rabbit; 3 Pronolagus, red rock-hares; 1 Bunolagus, riverine rabbit; 1 Pentalagus, Amami rabbit; 1 Caprolagus, hispid hare; 1 Poelagus, Bunyoro rabbit; 2 Nesolagus, striped rabbits; and 1 Romerolagus, volcano rabbit.
Early leporids were found in both the Old and New World before Lepus evolved, but had a probable origin in Asia. The Leporidae arose in the Pliocene and Lepus in the early Middle Pleistocene. Whereas Pentalagus, Pronolagus, and Romerolagus are ancient forms, Lepus is a young expanding genus.
The monotypical genera in Leporidae are taxonomically distinct with the exception of Brachylagus, which sometimes is included in Sylvilagus. However, the Lepus genus is in a state of confusion regarding both phylogeny and number of species.
Physical characteristics
All species in the family Leporidae have basic brown or gray soft fur with relatively long legs, feet, and ears. The tail is short and bushy. Some northern forms turn white for winter, and two are striped. The family can be split into two groups, hares and rabbits, based on morphology and ecology. The hare group includes all hares and jackrabbits in the genus Lepus, hereafter called hares. The rabbit group consists of the remaining genera in the family, despite that they are sometimes also known as hares (for example, hispid hares) hereafter called rabbits. Hares have long legs and can reach considerable running speed. They also have longer ears, usually with black tips, and are, overall, larger than rabbits. The body length of hares is 15–30 in (40–75 cm), with a weight of 3–13.2 lb (1,350–6,000 g). Rabbits, on the other hand, have shorter legs and are generally smaller: 10–20 in (25–50 cm); 14 oz–6.6 lb (400–3,000 g).
Distribution
Altogether, hares and rabbits are distributed over most areas of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe, and have also been introduced into southern South America, Australia, New Zealand, Java, and other islands.
The natural habitat of European hares is open terrain ranging from forest steppes to arid steppes. They therefore benefit from cultivation of fields. In connection to agriculture, they spread rapidly to the east and northeast during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. They were also successfully introduced in agricultural areas in Argentina, Ireland, Scandinavia, New Zealand, Australia, and southern Siberia.
The European rabbit has a similar increase in distribution due to many introductions in suitable habitats. Before the Ice Age, it inhabited parts of Western Europe, as indicated by fossils. However, its natural post-Ice Age distribution includes only Spain and northwest Africa. But already the Romans had introduced rabbits to different parts of Europe. There were several introductions in Australia, but the successful ones came from 24 rabbits in 1859 in Victoria and in 1864 to New Zealand. Both Australia and New Zealand suffered tremendously from a gigantic rabbit population explosion. In spite
of the disastrous consequences, wild rabbits were later introduced into Chile and became a plague there as well.
Habitat
Since hares and rabbits are found almost all over the world, they are also both found in a variety of habitats, from deep forests to open deserts. But hares have different basic habitat requirements than rabbits.
Hares are mostly found in open areas where their running speed is a good adaptation to escape predators. They can thus be found from arctic tundra to productive grasslands or deserts. In these open areas, they take advantage of shrubs and rocks to hide, and rely on their well-camouflaged fur. But snowshoe hares and partly mountain hares and Manchurian hares prefer coniferous or mixed forests.
However, rabbits are confined to forests and shrubs where they can hide in the vegetation or in burrows. Some rabbits are found in deep tropical forests, such as the striped rabbits, and others use specific habitats like riverine shrubs, as do the riverine rabbit and hispid hare. Cottontails inhabit a large variety of habitats, including swamps, forests, parks, agricultural field, shrubs, and deserts.
Behavior
Predation is an important aspect in the life of hares and rabbits. Hares escape predators by running away and try to confuse predators by backtracking themselves. Rabbits try to
escape predators by running into burrows or holes. Therefore, hares can travel considerable distances and have large home ranges, while rabbits mostly stay in the vicinity of safe hiding places in small home ranges or territories. Many species use distress calls or thump their hind feet on the ground to warn for predators. They also use a soft sound produced by grinding their teeth.
Hearing is the most important sense for leporids, but scent marking is also an central way to communicate. They have scent glands on their nose, chin, and around the anus. This is important in sexual situations, especially for the social European rabbit.
Feeding ecology and diet
All hares and rabbits are strictly herbivores. Their diets include green plant parts, especially grasses, clover, and, to a lesser extent, cruciferous and composite plants (e.g., dandelions). In winter, the diet also includes dry twigs, buds, young tree bark, roots, and seeds. In steppe regions, the winter diet consists of dry weeds and seeds. Most like cultivated plants such as winter grains, rapeseed, cabbage, parsley, and carnations. Both hares and rabbits may damage cereals, brassica crops, fruit trees, and tree plantations, especially in winter. Hares rarely drink when there are enough moist plants around, but sometimes eat snow in the winter.
Reproductive biology
Most hares and rabbits are solitary, although they can be seen in groups around mating season when males fight each other to build social hierarchies and try to get access to females in estrous. But the European rabbit forms highly social groups with one to four males and one to nine females. They can dig complex burrows that they defend against other social groups. Both males and females are promiscuous. Like many leporids, they mate again soon after giving birth. Since
gestation length for the European rabbit is about 30 days, they give birth to five to seven litters a year. European hares increase reproductive output by fertilizing a second litter before the first one is born (superfetation).
Hares give birth, after a long gestation period, to well-developed fur-covered leverets that have open eyes and that can already move around at birth. Rabbits have a shorter gestation period and build nests with fur in burrows or hollows underground or in dense cover. The newborn rabbit kittens are poorly developed with eyes closed and no fur. After birth,
both hare and rabbit mothers suckle their leverets only once a day with highly nutritious milk. This lack of social contact makes it difficult for predators to find juvenile hares and rabbits. Litter size of both hares and rabbits vary with geography and climate.
Conservation status
Typically, the ancient rabbit species are threatened with extinction because of low population sizes and restricted distributions, including the riverine rabbit, volcano rabbit, hispid hare, and the two striped rabbits. Some species on islands are also Endangered, such as the Hainan hare, Tres Marias cottontail, and Amami rabbit.
Many species have not been evaluated by IUCN and some of those will undoubtedly be listed as threatened such as the newly described Annamite striped rabbit. Another problem is the taxonomy where relationships between taxa are not well described.
Significance to humans
Many hares and rabbits are economically important for humans. They are hunted for meat, skin, and for sport. Cottontails and some of the hares are hunted in millions every year. However, they may also damage agricultural crops and forestry plantations. When introduced into new areas, they can also threaten native species.
Hares and rabbits are known from tales dating back centuries, mostly as tricksters and fertility symbols. The hare was, for example, important in the Germanic heathen mythology as the fertility goddess Ostara, and was transformed by Christians into the Easter celebration.
The domestic European rabbit is well known all over the world and used extensively in laboratory research and as pet animals. The first descriptions of domestic breeds of European rabbits come from France in the sixteenth century.
Species accounts
List of Species
Snowshoe hareEuropean hare
Mountain hare
Annamite striped rabbit
European rabbit
Volcano rabbit
Desert cottontail
Eastern cottontail
Snowshoe hare
Lepus americanus
taxonomy
Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777, Fort Severn, Ontario, Canada. Fifteen subspecies.
other common names
French: Lièvre d'Amérique; German: Schneeschuhhase; Spanish: Liebre nival.
physical characteristics
The smallest of the hares with large hind feet that turn white during the winter.
distribution
From Alaska to Newfoundland and south through the coastal range; the Rockies and the Appalachians to northern California, northern New Mexico, and Tennessee.
habitat
From conifer forests to mixed forests, with a preference for transition zones.
behavior
Populations show large synchronized fluctuations with a peak every eight to 11 years (10-year cycles). They use forms for cover during the day and make regular trails to feeding areas.
feeding ecology and diet
Summer diet is grasses, sedges, and various herbs, but changes to birch, aspen, willow, spruce, and pine during the winter.
reproductive biology
Promiscuous. Most reproductive characters are related to the 10-year population cycle. Normally gives birth to two litters per year, but this can increase to four, dependent on geography and population phase. Litter sizes vary from one to 10.
conservation status
Common; not threatened.
significance to humans
Important game species; may damage tree plantations.
European hare
Lepus europaeus
taxonomy
Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778, southwest Poland. Thirty sub-species.
other common names
English: Brown hare; French: Lièvre brun; German: Feldhase; Spanish: Liebre común.
physical characteristics
Body length 20–27 in (52–68 cm), tail 3–5 in (8–12 cm), body weight 5.5–14 lb (2,500–6,000 g). A large hare that is brown throughout the year with long ears, relatively long tail, and long limbs.
distribution
Most of Europe, south to Iran, and into western Siberia. Introduced in eastern North America, southern South America, southeastern Australia, New Zealand, and several islands.
habitat
Open country as mixed farmland, moorland, steppe, but also open woodland. In introduced areas habitats can be variable, including pampas, sand dunes, marshes, and alpine grassland.
behavior
Solitary, but may aggregate in groups when feeding; males fight around females in estrous.
feeding ecology and diet
Diet varies with mostly grass in the summer and can include shrubs in the winter, but on agricultural land crops dominates.
reproductive biology
Males and females are promiscuous. Females give birth to two to four litters per year with a mean litter size of one to four.
conservation status
Common; not threatened.
significance to humans
Important game species that may damage crops.
Mountain hare
Lepus timidus
taxonomy
Lepus timidus Linnaeus, 1758, Uppsala, Sweden.
other common names
English: Blue hare, varying hare; French: Lièvre variable; German: Schneehase; Spanish: Liebre variable.
physical characteristics
Body length 18–24 in (46–61 cm); weight 4.4–10.4 lb (2,000–4,700 g). A medium-sized hare with long hind feet and short ears; summer fur is brown and turns mostly white in winter.
distribution
Circumpolar in tundra and taiga habitats from Britain to Japan.
habitat
Common in tundra, taiga habitats, and mixed forests. Prefer transition zones with open clearings, and in swamps and river valleys. In Scotland found on heather moorland, and in Ireland and Hokkaido, Japan also on agricultural land.
behavior
A solitary animal. During mating season, it can be seen in groups, sometimes fights upright on its hind legs.
feeding ecology and diet
Leaves and twigs of willow, rowan, birch, juniper, aspen, and heather; in tundra, alpine plants, especially dwarf willow, and blueberry are important. Palatable grasses and herbs are eaten in the summer when available: grasses, sedge, and dicotyledons.
reproductive biology
Promiscuous. In tundra areas, only one litter per year with a mean litter size of five to six young, but up to four litters per year depending on the length of the vegetation season with a mean litter size of two to four. At birth, the young are fully furred, their eyes are open, and they start suckling at once.
conservation status
Very widespread and abundant over most of its range; not threatened.
significance to humans
Important game species; may damage crops and tree plantations.
Annamite striped rabbit
Nesolagus limminsi
taxonomy
Nesolagus limminsi Averianov, Abramov, and Tikhonov, 2000, Huong Son District, Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam.
other common names
French: Lapin Annamite; German: Annamitekaninchen; Spanish: Conejo de Annamite.
physical characteristics
Body length 13.5–15.8 in (35240 cm). Coat buffy gray with brown stripes. Under parts are white.
distribution
Known only from the vicinity of the type locality in Vietnam.
habitat
Forest with thick undergrowth.
behavior
Probably nocturnal.
feeding ecology and diet
Nothing is known.
reproductive biology
Nothing is known.
conservation status
Presumed rare and potentially endangered.
significance to humans
Unknown, but used as food.
European rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
taxonomy
Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linneaus, 1758), Germany.
other common names
French: Lapin de garenne; German: Wildkaninchen; Spanish: Conejo europeo.
physical characteristics
Body length 14–20 in (35–50 cm), weight 3.3–6.6 lb (1,500–3,000 g). The fur is brown with light and black tips, tail white below.
distribution
Original distribution in the Iberian Peninsula and northwest Africa, but introduced 2,000 years ago to the rest of Europe. Later introductions also to Australia, New Zealand, South America, and several islands all over the world.
habitat
In Europe, found in well-drained areas where it is easy to dig dens such as riverbanks. But in introduced areas, it shows great adaptability and inhabits anything from deserts to sub-alpine valleys, including gardens and parks.
behavior
It digs complex burrows for protection against predators and for reproduction. Scent marking is common in social communication, with dominant males being most active.
feeding ecology and diet
Grass, herbs, roots, bark, and cultivated plants.
reproductive biology
Gestation length is about 30 days and they produce five to seven litters per year with a mean size of five to six. It forms highly social groups with one to four males and one to nine females; promiscuous mating.
conservation status
Not threatened.
significance to humans
Many introduced populations have reached pest proportions. Important game animal in many areas, and domestic breeds are used in laboratory research and as pet animals.
Volcano rabbit
Romerolagus diazi
taxonomy
Romerolagus diazi (Ferrari-Pérez, 1893), San Martin Texmelusán, Mexico.
other common names
English: Zacatuche; French: Lapin des volcans; German: Vulkankaninchen; Spanish: Conejo zacatuche, teporingo.
physical characteristics
One of the smallest leporids; body length 10–14 in (27–36 cm), weight 14–18 oz (400–500 g). The ears are short and the hair is dark brown, and it lacks a visible external tail.
distribution
They occur only on the slopes of the Mexican volcanoes, Ajusco and Ixtacihuatl; Popocateptl at 9,190–13,120 ft (2,800–4,000 m).
habitat
Open pine forests with a unique grass habitat, zacaton.
behavior
Vocalizations resemble those of pikas. Mainly active during the days.
feeding ecology and diet
Feeding on the typical zacaton grasses.
reproductive biology
Assumed promiscuous. Average litters size one to three. Breeding season December–July.
conservation status
Listed as Endangered by the IUCN an U.S. Endangered Species Act. Also listed on CITES Appendix I. A very restricted distribution close to Mexico City.
significance to humans
Threatened by habitat destruction, forest fires, agriculture, and property developments. Hunting is now illegal.
Desert cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
taxonomy
Sylvilagus audubonii (Baird, 1858), San Francisco Co., California, United States. Twelve subspecies.
other common names
English: Audubon's cottontail; French: Lapin Audubon; German: Audubonkaninchen; Spanish: Conejo del desierto.
physical characteristics
Body length 14–15 in (37–40 cm); tail 1.6–2.4 in (4–6 cm); weight 26.5–44 oz (750–1,250 g). A relatively large cottontail with large ears.
distribution
From Montana south to central Mexico and west to the Californian coast.
habitat
Typically arid areas, but also at higher altitudes.
behavior
Not social, but with overlapping home ranges of up to 15 acres (6 ha).
feeding ecology and diet
Diet mostly grasses, but also some wood species such as Rosa and Rubus.
reproductive biology
Males and females promiscuous. Mean litter size two to three; breeding season from January to August; sexual maturity reached as early as 80 days after birth.
conservation status
Common; not threatened.
significance to humans
Important game species.
Eastern cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
taxonomy
Sylvilagus floridanus (J. A. Allen, 1890), Florida, United States. Thirty-five recognized subspecies.
other common names
French: Lapin à queue blanche; German: Florida-Waldkaninchen; Spanish: Conejo castellano.
physical characteristics
Body length 15–19 in (40–48 cm); tail 1–2.4 in (2.5–6 cm); weight 1.8–3.3 lb (800–1,500 g). A large cottontail with brown or grayish fur.
distribution
From southern Canada through central and eastern United States, Central America, and northern South America.
habitat
Widely distributed in many habitats such as woodlands, prairies, farmlands, deserts, and rainforests.
behavior
Do not dig burrows, but females dig nests in holes where the young are reared. Males fight one another to establish dominance hierarchies at mating.
feeding ecology and diet
Herbs and grasses are preferred during growing season, and woody species during winter.
reproductive biology
Promiscuous. Normally three to five litters per year, but could be up to seven. Mean litter size vary geographically from, typically, two to six. Up to 50% of juveniles breed their first year.
conservation status
Common; not threatened.
significance to humans
Important game species, but could sometimes damage crops and forest plantations.
| Common name / Scientific name/Other common names | Physical characteristics | Habitat and behavior | Distribution | Diet | Conservation status |
| Pygmy rabbit Brachylagus id | Slate-gray tipped with brown. Belly is white, legs, chest, and short, rounded ears are brown. Small; head and body length 11.5 in (29.2 cm). | Dense sage brush habitat. Breeding season is from February to May. Shy, active only at night, distinct alarm call, make burrows and nests of their own hair. | Southwestern Oregon to east-central California, south-western Utah, north to southwestern Montana, United States. | Mainly sage brush. | Lower Risk/Near Threatened |
| Riverine rabbit Bunolagus monticularis | Black stripe runs from corner of mouth over cheek. Tail is brown and woolly, belly and throat are cream-colored. Tail is pale brown with black tip. Coat is soft and silky, limbs are short and very furry. Head and body length 13–18.5 in (33.7–47 cm), weight of average male 3.3 lb (1.5 kg). | Dense riverine scrub along the seasonal rivers in the central Karoo Desert in the Cape Province of South Africa. Breeding season is from August to May. Nocturnal, solitary, and territorial. | South Africa. | Salty plants, leaves, and flowers. | Endangered |
| Hispid hare Caprolagus hispidus English: Assam rabbit; French: Lapin de l'assam; German: Borstenkaninchen; Spanish: Conejo de Assam | Ears are short and broad, eyes are small, hind legs are short and stout. Pelage is coarse and bristly on outer surface, while being short and fine on undersurface. Color is dark brown above, brownish white underparts. Head and body length 15–20 in (38–50 cm), tail length 0.9– 1.5 in (2.5–3.8 cm), weight 5.5 lb (2,500 g). | Tall grass-scrub savanna, in flat, well-drained and thinly forested country. Breeding season is from January to March. Not gregarious, but sometimes lives in pairs. | India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. | Bark, shoots, and roots of grasses. | Endangered |
| Antelope jackrabbit Lepus alleni | Color is pale, sandy. Ears are tipped in black. Head and body length 19–25 in (48.3–63.5 cm), ear length 5.4–6.8 in (13.8–17.3 cm), average weight 6–11 lb (2,720–4,990 g). | Prefer grassy slopes at moderate elevation, cactus belt, creosote bush desert and valley bottoms. Litter size varies from one to five. Nocturnal. | South-central Arizona, United States, to northern Nayarit and Tiburon Island, Mexico. | Fresh grass, mesquite, and cacti. | Not threatened |
| Arctic hare Lepus arcticus German: Eishase | White in color, ears tipped in black. Summer pelage coloration varies geographically. Underfur is dense and gray. Adult weight 7–12 lb (3,175– 4,990 g). | Mountainous and lowland areas. Nocturnal, generally solitary, but groups may range from 100 to 300 individuals. Breeding season from mid-April to September. | Tundra of Canada from Newfoundland and Labrador to the Mackenzie Delta of the Northwest Territories, Arctic Islands, and in Greenland from sea level to 2,950 ft (900 m). | Woody plants, including mosses, lichens, buds, berries, blooms, leaves, saxifrages, cinquefoils, campoins, sedges, seaweed, bark, willow twigs and roots, and crowberry. | Not threatened |
| Black-tailed jackrabbit Lepus californicus | Black stripe runs down back of this large animal, black rump patch is present, tail is dorsally black. Head and body length 119–160 in (47–63 cm), ear length 3.9–5.1 in (10–13 cm), weight 2.2– 6.6 lb (1–3 kg). | Desert scrubland, prairies, farmlands, dunes, and moors. Do not dig burrows, but lie in shallow dug-outs. Breeding season from December through September. Mainly nocturnal. | Hidalgo and southern Queretaro to northern Sonora and Baja California, Mexico, north to southwestern Oregon and central Washington, southern Idaho, eastern Colorado, southern South Dakota, western Missouri, and north-western Arkansas, United States. | Grasses, herbaceous matter, and young bark of woody plants. | Not threatened |
| Common name / Scientific name/Other common names | Physical characteristics | Habitat and behavior | Distribution | Diet | Conservation status |
| White-sided jackrabbit Lepus callotis | Pelage is short, coarse, pale ochraceous-cinnamon in color, mixed heavily with black. Underparts, rump, and thighs are white and lined with a few black hairs. Head is cream buff color mixed with black, whitish areas around eyes. Ears are tipped in white. Winter pelage is mostly gray with underparts being dark gray-buff and white. Head and body length 17–23.5 in (43.2–59.8 cm), tail length 1.8–3.6 in (4.7–;9.2 cm), weight 4.4–6.6 lb (2–3 kg). | High plateaus at high elevations, including the grassy plains. Breeding season from mid-April to mid-August. Usually occurs in pairs and at night. | Southern New Mexico to northwestern and central Mexico. | Mainly grasses. | Lower Risk/Near Threatened |
| Sumatran rabbit Nesolagus netscheri French: Lapin de Sumatra; Spanish: Conejo de Sumatra | Base color of buffy gray, striking brown stripes, mid-dorsal stripe from shoulders to rump. Rump and tail are bright red, underparts are white. Head and body length 13.5–15.8 in (35–40 cm), tail length 0.6 in (1.5 cm). | Forests at 1,950–4,600 ft (600–1,400 m). Nocturnal. Nothing known of reproductive patterns. | Highlands of the Barisan range in southwestern Sumatra. | Stalks and leaves of understory plants. | Critically Endangered |
| Amami rabbit Pentalagus furnessi English: Ryukyu rabbit | Fur is woolly, dense, dark brown on back in color, reddish brown on the sides. Underparts are light reddish brown. Head and body length 16–20 in (43–51 cm), tail length 0.6 in (1.5 cm), weight 4.4– 6.6 lb (2–3 kg). | Dense old-growth forests on the two islands. Mate in November or December, two or three young per litter. Nocturnal, digs burrows. | Amami Oshima and Tokuno-shima: small islands in Ryukyu Archipelgo, southern Japan. | A variety of different plants and fruits. | Endangered |
| Swamp or water rabbit Sylvilagus aquaticus | Pelage is brown on top with some white underneath. Ears are medium in size, females and males are about the same size. Hair is short and thin. Ear length 2.6 in (6.6 cm), weight 2.2–4.4 lb (1–2 kg). | Swamp and lowland areas close to water. Solitary. Year-round breeding season. | South-central United States. | Marsh and swamp plants. | Not threatened |
| Mountain cottontail Sylvilagus nuttallii | Grayish brown, underbelly is white. Hind legs are reddish brown. Ears are short, rounded, and tipped in black. Head and body length 13.7–15 in (35–39 cm), weight 1.5–2.6 lb (0.7–1.2 kg). | Brushy or wooded areas on slopes or riverbanks that are often covered with grasses, willows, and most importantly, sagebrush. Breeding season from March to July. Solitary. Active all year long. | Western part of the United States. | Mainly grasses. | Not threatened |
Resources
Books
Chapman, J. A., and J. E. C. Flux, eds. Rabbits, Hares and Pikas, Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. Gland, Switzerland: International Union for Conservation of Nature, 1990.
Smith, A. J., and D. Bell. "Rabbits and Hares." In The New Encyclopedia of Mammals, edited by D. W. Macdonald. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.
Periodicals
Angerbjörn, A., and J. E. C. Flux. "Lepus timidus." Mammalian Species 495 (1995): 1–11.
Averianov, A. O., A. V. Abramov, and A. N. Tikhonov. "A New Species of Nesolagus (Lagomorpha, Leoporidae) from Vietnam with Osteological Description." Contributions from the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg 3 (2000): 1–22.
Chapman, J. A., and G. R. Willner. "Sylvilagus audubonii." Mammalian Species 106 (1978): 1–4.
Chapman, J. A., J. G. Hockman, and M. M. Ojeda C. "Sylvilagus floridanus." Mammalian Species 136 (1980): 1–8.
Surridge, A. K., R. J. Timmins, G. M. Hewitt, and D. J. Bell. "Striped Rabbits in Southeast Asia." Nature 400 (1999): 726.
Organizations
IUCN—The World Conservation Union, Species Survival Commission, Lagomorph Specialist Group. Web site: <http://www.ualberta.ca/dhik/lsg/>
Anders Angerbjörn, PhD