Amami Rabbit

These rabbits as the name is explaining itself is found on the island name Amami, and Tokuno in Japan. In the Southwestern of Japan there is a group of islands and from those Amami is the largest of all. It is dark brown in color and got endangered. Let’s have a look at some basic features of the Amami rabbit.

Scientific Name	Pentalagus Furness
Phylum	Chordata
Subphylum	Vertebrata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Lagomorpha
Family	Leporidae
Genus	Pentalagus
Length	40-51 cm
weight	2-3 kg
Tail	0.4-1.4 inches
Color	Dark Brown
Lifespan	10 years

Amami Rabbit Habitat

As they are found in islands, 85% of it are covered with trees. Thus, they use burrows or tree hollows. You can also see them in the grasslands that have ferns and perennials. Most of it lives near the waterways. 

They have pointed nails, with the help of those nails they dig dens to live in. Further, these rabbits make underground passages to move into the forest. 

Amami Rabbit Physical Description

Like other rabbit species, these rabbits do have some physical attributes but they are extremely different from other rabbit species. You cannot have them as pets. They have smaller noses, short ears, small noses, dark brown fur, and claws. 

Female rabbits are slightly larger than male rabbits. Females have an average body length of 452mm, on the other hand, males have a length of 451mm. As females are larger in size, so they are dimorphic sexually. 

Male rabbits have long tails approximately 25-35cm, while females have a tail length of 25-32cm. The mass of female rabbits is 2.2kg, whereas male rabbits slightly low in mass 2.1kg. Do you want to know about the history of the Mini Satin rabbit?

Reproduction in Amami Rabbits

These rabbit species are promiscuous. As these species are becoming endangered so no larger research is being done on them. A lot of questions come in every person’s mind but researchers are trying to find the answers. It is not clear that a single male can mate more than one female. 

Male rabbits try to approach female rabbits during captivity. In captivity, a single offspring is produced. In Japan, in the last 5 years, 11 offspring are being produced while in captivity. Its gestation period is still unknown but the closest species of Amami rabbits have a gestation period of 39 days. 

  The neonate (mini Amami rabbit), when comes to this world, has an average body mass of 100g, and its length is 15cm. 

Amami Rabbit Lifespan

According to our research, its lifespan is 10 years, but still, it is not confirming. Biologists are working on a daily basis to find the answers to those questions that are still confusing people. 

Strangely these rabbit’s communication is very odd, they have to vocalize noises to talk with each other. This thing has not been found in other rabbit species. 

Amami Rabbit food/Diet

As it lives on Amami or Tokuno island which has large trees with broad leaves. So, these rabbit’s food includes grasses and ferns along with these broad tree leaves. Also, they are herbivores in nature. 

Amami Rabbit Facts

Like other rabbit breeds, this too has some facts that everyone should know. Let’s discuss those facts;

• Amami rabbits are found on the southwestern islands of Japan named Amami and Tokuno. Amami island is the largest of all.
• They live near waterways or hide in the tree hollows. Also, they make burrows to cover themselves in the day.
• Physical attributes include dark brown color fur, short pointed nose, small eyes, larger claws.
• Females are larger in size than male rabbits.
• Their diet is different from other rabbit species, as they live on islands that are grassy, and mostly covered with trees, so they eat these green leaves and grasses.
• Its gestation period is not confirmed but still is near about 39 days.

Amami Rabbit Endangered

From the last few years, it is found that only a few of the Amami rabbits were left on the islands approximately 2200 not confirmed. Biologists and breeders are trying to save this species of rabbits. Also, in captivity 11 offspring are being produced. 

Amami Rabbit Population

There is a decline in these rabbits’ population because it has been seen that its population is lowering rapidly. Only a few of them were left (2500) out of those 5800 on the Tokuno island. 

But a recent study has shown this good news that there is an increase in the population of these rabbit species. So, there is a hope that these rabbit species can be saved from being extinct.