Amami Rabbit

Pentalagus furnessi

Conservation Status

Endangered

Mammalia · Lagomorpha · Leporidae

About

The Amami rabbit, also known as the Ryukyu rabbit, is a dark-furred species of rabbit which is found only on Amami Ōshima and Tokunoshima, two small islands between southern Kyūshū and Okinawa in Japan. Often called a living fossil, the Amami rabbit is a living remnant of ancient rabbits that once lived on the Asian mainland, where they died out, remaining only on the two small Japanese islands where they live today.

Fun Fact

The Amami rabbit is a 'living fossil' — one of the most primitive rabbits alive — found only on two tiny Japanese islands, with dark fur, short ears, and claws for digging burrows like an ancestral rabbit.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Subtropical forests

Diet

Herbivore

Lifespan

5-10 years

Threats

Illegal Logging
Deforestation
Small Population Size
Genetic Bottleneck

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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