Pentalagus furnessi
Amami rabbit
(Also: Ryukyu rabbit)

Pentalagus furnessi is found only on Amami Oshima and Tokuno-shima. These are small islands in Ryukyu Archipelgo, south of Japan.

This species lives mainly in the dense old-growth forests on the two islands. It has also been found in secondary forests and forest edges. Pentalagus furnessi is not found outside of the forest in residential or cultivated areas.

This species is about 43 to 51cm long and has a tail that is, on average, 15mm long. The ears on this rabbit are near 45mm in length. It also has unusually long, thick, cuved claws in comparison with other rabbits. Its weight is between two and three kilograms. The fur is woolly and very dense. The color of the fur is dark brown on the back and reddish brown on the sides. The underside is a lighter reddish brown.

This species is unique among living taxa due to its primative characters. Pentalagus furnessi has the most primative charaters of species in the Leporidae family. It has some morphological traits that resemble those found in fossils from the Miocene. The lumbar vertebrae in this species have broad transverse processes. Other primitive characters include small bullae, small orbits, long bony palate and narrow anterior palatal foramina. Another unique characteristic is in the third lower premolar, which has symmetrical grooves.

Not much is known about the behavior of P.furnessi. It is nocturnal and digs burrows to use as nests and dens. This species also moves around the forest by using passages in the undergrowth.

This species eats a variety of different plants and fruits. The diet changes somewhat throughout the year. Pampas grass is the most important food in the summer and acorns in the winter.

Foods eaten include: Japenese pampas grass, acorns, bamboo shoots, berries, leaves and stems of sweet potatoes.

In the past this species was hunted for food. Also, it has disputed medicinal value for humans.

Pentalagus furnessi is an endangered species. It has been estimated that there are less than 5,000 individuals remaining. Humans have been the main reason for the decline in the population of this species. In the past, these rabbits were hunted for medicinal value and food. Today, the logging industry is destroying their habitats.

In order to perserve the species, it was made a national monument by Japan. This gives it complete legal protection. Removal of feral dogs and cats, predators, has also been suggested as means of preservation by IUCN/SSC.