Sylvilagus brasiliensis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Leporidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 107-148 : 120-121

19.

Common Tapeti

Sylvilagus brasiliensis

French: Lapin du Brésil / German: Tapeti / Spanish: Conejo tropical

Other common names: Forest Rabbit, Tapeti

Taxonomy. Lepus brasiliensis Linnaeus, 1758 ,

“in America meridionalis.” Restricted by O. Thomas in 1911 to “Pernambuco,” Brazil.

Sylvilagus brasiliensis is closely related to S. varynaensis . Formerly, S. brasiliensis included S. dicei and S. gabbi as subspecies. Subspecies true: has been removed from S. brasiliensis and now belongs to S. gabbi . Taxonomic revision of S. brasiliensis is necessary because some other subspecies might deserve full species status. As taxonomists are still trying to clarify the species differentiation in Sylvilagus , the subspecific taxonomy is not elaborated yet. The original descriptions of the subspecies are often not very helpful as they are mostly based on few exterior characteristics and small numbers of individuals. It has been shown that the variability is clinal in more careful investigations. Hence, the distinction in subspecies might be arbitrary and unreasonable. Nineteen subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

S.b.brasiliensisLinnaeus,1758—PernambucoandBahiastates(NEBrazil).

S.b.andinusThomas,1897—CanarProvince(SCEcuador).

S.b.apollinarisThomas,1920—Bogotaregion(CColombia).

S.b.capsalisThomas,1913—CajamarcaRegion(NPeru).

S.b.caracasensisMondolfi&Méndez,1957—VenezuelanCoastalRange(NCVenezuela).

S.b.chillaeAnthony,1923—ElOroProvince(SWEcuador).

S.b.chotanusHershkovitz,1938—ImbaburaProvince(NEcuador).

S.b.defilippiCornalia,1850—upperAmazonianregionsofColombia,EEcuador,andNWPeru.

S.b.fulvescens].A.Allen,1912—CaucaDepartment(SWColombia).

S.b.gibsoniThomas,1918—NArgentinafromtheRioParaguay-ParanatoETucuman,Jujuy,andSaltaprovinces,NintoTarijaDepartment(SBolivia).

S.b.incaThomas,1913—SEPeru.

S.b.kelloggiAnthony,1923—LojaandAzuayprovinces(SEcuador).

S.b.meridensisThomas,1904—AndeanParamosinNEColombiaandAndeanParamosandWLlanosinWVenezuela.

S.b.minensisThomas,1901—SW&SMinasGerais(SEBrazil).

S.b.paraguensisThomas,1901—Paraguay(Chacoregionandadjacenthighlands),MattoGrossoState(WCBrazil),SantaCruzDepartment(EBolivia),CorrientesandMisionesprovinces(NEArgentina).

S.b.peruanusHershkovitz,1950—PeruvianAndes.

S.b.sanctaemartaeHershkovitz,1950—NColombia.

S.b.surdasterThomas,1901—EsmeraldasProvince(NWEcuador).

S. b. tapetillus Thomas, 1913 — Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sulstates (SE Brazil). Also present in the Guinanas, N Brazil, and other areas shaded in the map, but subspecies involved not known.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 380-420 mm, tail 20-21 mm, ear 40-50 mm, hindfoot 77-80 mm; weight 500-950 g. The Common Tapetiis small, with short to rudimentary tail. It has short hindfeet and short ears. Dorsal fur varies from light gray to almost black. Sides and upper parts of tail are slightly lighter. Ventral fur is whitish, with dark throat patch. Tail is dingy buff below.

Habitat. Mostly in disturbed areas, including agricultural areas, and forest edges from sea level to elevations of at least 4500 m. Habitats of the Common Tapeti and the Eastern Cottontail (S. floridanus ) are mutually exclusive in north-western South America.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. The Common Tapeti breeds year-round. Female reproductive activity is negatively correlated with precipitation and positively correlated with monthly low temperatures. Gestation lasts 42—45 days, and 3-9—4-7 litters/year occur in the Andean Paramos. Average litter sizes of 1-2-1-9 are the smallest reported for any species of Sylvilagus . A female Common Tapeti produces less than ten young per year. Young are born in an aboveground nest thatis built of dry grasses and has a central chamber with 3—4 small chambers at the end of a runway system. Young leave the nest at 11-13 days old and are nursed for an average of 20-1 days. Females become sexually active at 9-10 months old; males are sexually active at c.5 months old.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Common Tapeti is widespread and common. No severe population declines have been reported, but no recent population assessmentis available. A population decline was noted in the high mountains of Venezuela after habitat loss. Little is known about distribution of the Common Tapeti in the Amazonas region. The Eastern Cottontail replaces the Common Tapeti in artificial savannas and scrublands that cut through original forests in north-western South America. Predators that follow the Eastern Cottontail might also threaten the Common Tapeti. Besides habitat loss due to deforestation, human settlementis a threat to the Common Tapeti. Impact of tropical deforestation is poorly known. Nevertheless, the Common Tapeti seems to become more common in eastern Amazonas where forest disturbance and fragmentation due to timber extraction in rainforests are increasing. Recommendations are to clarify taxonomy of the Common Tapeti,its distribution, and population status. Expanded studies on its biology and ecology are needed because most existing data are from studies conducted in the Paramos of Venezuela.

Bibliography. AMCELA, Romero & Rangel (2008c), Angermann (2016), Cervantes, Zavala & Colmenares (2005), Chapman & Ceballos (1990), Diersing (1981), Durant (1981, 1983, 1988), Durant & Guevara (2001), Hall & Kelson (1959), Hershkovitz (1950), Hoffmann & Smith (2005), Lissovsky (2016), Lorenzo & Cervantes (1995), Mondolfi & Méndez (1957), Ruedas & Salazar-Bravo (2007), Silva et al. (2005), Thomas (1911¢).

Figures

1. Amami Rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi), 2. Jameson’s Red Rock Hare (Pronolagus randensis), 3. Natal Red Rock Hare (Pronolagus crassicaudatus), 4. Smith’s Red Rock Hare (Pronolagus rupestris), 5. Hewitt’s Red Rock Hare (Pronolagus saundersiae), 6. Volcano Rabbit (Romerolagus diaz), 7. Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis), 8. Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), 9. Sumatran Striped Rabbit (Nesolagus netscher), 10. Annamite Striped Rabbit (Nesolagus timminsi), 11. Brush Rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani), 12. San Jose Brush Rabbit (Sylvilagus mansuetus), 13. Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii), 14. Mountain Cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii), 15. New England Cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis)

Subspecies and Distribution. S.b.brasiliensisLinnaeus,1758—PernambucoandBahiastates(NEBrazil). S.b.andinusThomas,1897—CanarProvince(SCEcuador). S.b.apollinarisThomas,1920—Bogotaregion(CColombia). S.b.capsalisThomas,1913—CajamarcaRegion(NPeru). S.b.caracasensisMondolfi&Méndez,1957—VenezuelanCoastalRange(NCVenezuela). S.b.chillaeAnthony,1923—ElOroProvince(SWEcuador). S.b.chotanusHershkovitz,1938—ImbaburaProvince(NEcuador). S.b.defilippiCornalia,1850—upperAmazonianregionsofColombia,EEcuador,andNWPeru. S.b.fulvescens].A.Allen,1912—CaucaDepartment(SWColombia). S.b.gibsoniThomas,1918—NArgentinafromtheRioParaguay-ParanatoETucuman,Jujuy,andSaltaprovinces,NintoTarijaDepartment(SBolivia). S.b.incaThomas,1913—SEPeru. S.b.kelloggiAnthony,1923—LojaandAzuayprovinces(SEcuador). S.b.meridensisThomas,1904—AndeanParamosinNEColombiaandAndeanParamosandWLlanosinWVenezuela. S.b.minensisThomas,1901—SW&SMinasGerais(SEBrazil). S.b.paraguensisThomas,1901—Paraguay(Chacoregionandadjacenthighlands),MattoGrossoState(WCBrazil),SantaCruzDepartment(EBolivia),CorrientesandMisionesprovinces(NEArgentina). S.b.peruanusHershkovitz,1950—PeruvianAndes. S.b.sanctaemartaeHershkovitz,1950—NColombia. S.b.surdasterThomas,1901—EsmeraldasProvince(NWEcuador). S. b. tapetillus Thomas, 1913 — Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sulstates (SE Brazil). Also present in the Guinanas, N Brazil, and other areas shaded in the map, but subspecies involved not known.