The Annamite striped rabbit (''Nesolagus timminsi'') is a species of rabbit native to the Annamite mountain range on the Laos-

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

border. The rabbit is striped, with a red rump, and resembles the

Sumatran striped rabbit The Sumatran striped rabbit (''Nesolagus netscheri''), also known as the Sumatra short-eared rabbit or Sumatran rabbit, is a rabbit found only in forests in the Barisan Mountains in western Sumatra, Indonesia, and surrounding areas. It is threaten ...

. It only recently became known to Western scientists: striped rabbits were first observed in 1996 by biologist Rob Timmins in a market in Bak Lak in Laos, and the species was described in 2000 and named after Timmins' find. Its range includes the Northern and Central Annamites, and possibly the Southern Annamites. Very little is known of its ecology, nor why there is a thousand-mile gap between it and its nearest relative, the Sumatran striped rabbit (''Nesolagus netscheri''). Molecular analysis indicates that the two diverged from a common ancestor about eight million years ago. They may have survived in forested refugia that remained when glacial ice sheets retreated after the last ice age. Threats to the species are hunting, either by snare or less likely by dogs and habitat loss which makes it more vulnerable to hunters. The most significant threats are snares, and cultivation at lower altitudes and agriculture throughout and the least but increasing threats are extensive road building which opens undisturbed area to farmers and timber harvesters, dams and mining. It Is found in conservation areas

Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park Phong may refer to: Computer graphics * Phong shading * Phong reflection model * Blinn–Phong shading model * Bui Tuong Phong - creator of the Phong shading interpolation method and reflection model. Other * Phong-Kniang language * Nam Phon ...

Nakai–Nam Theun Nakai-Nam Theun National Park in Nakai District, Khammouane Province, Laos, is one of the last remaining wildernesses in Southeast Asia. Nakai-Nam Theun covers approximately 4,270 km2 of the Annamite Range and the adjacent Nakai Plateau in ...

and Umat. Laos and Vietnam both have no conservation measures for this species. Records show Annamite striped rabbits can be common in suitable habitats and other areas show as uncommon and rare. The

International Union for Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of nat ...

has assessed its conservation status as

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and in ...

based on the high level of snaring activity in Vietnam, which is causing sharp declines in all ground-dwelling small mammals in the region.

References

External links

*
Striped rabbit revealed in Laos forest
' at bbc.co.uk *
Camera-shy deer caught for first time
' at phys.org *
British expedition set out on a three month trip to track down the world’s rarest rabbit, finds it on the first night.
' Daily Hype Online {{Taxonbar, from=Q564479 Leporidae Mammals described in 2000 Taxa named by Alexei V. Abramov Mammals of Vietnam