Venezuelan Lowland Rabbit

The Venezuelan lowland rabbit is the largest of the rabbits known from South America within its species distribution, which is shared at least partially with the common tapeti and the eastern cottontail. Adults have a head and body length of roughly 43 centimeters (17 in), tail length of 2.4 centimetres (0.94 in), hind foot length of 8.6 centimetres (3.4 in), and ear length of 6 cm (2.4 in). Females are larger than males and have three pairs of mammary glands. It has a tawny-colored nose, buff-colored cheek, above-eye, and external ear regions, and reddish fur on the back of the head to the bottom of the neck, with white-furred rings around the eyes. The Venezuelan lowland rabbit's dental formula is 2.0.3.31.0.2.3 × 2 = 28—two pairs of upper and one pair of lower incisors, no canines, three upper and two lower premolars on each side, and three upper and lower molars on either side of the jaw. It differs from other cottontail rabbits found in Venezuela in several ways. Its length and weight is greater than both the common tapeti and eastern cottontail. The length of the Venezuelan lowland rabbit's palate is shorter than that of the eastern cottontail, but larger than that of the common tapeti. In their original description, Durant and Guevara differentiate the lowland rabbit from the common tapeti by its overall larger size and darker fur color.

The Venezuelan lowland rabbit is found in low-elevation savannas close to dry forests within the Llanos ecoregion across Barinas, Portuguesa, and Guárico in western Venezuela. Its habitat is dominated by shrubby vegetation in the genera Sida and Malvastrum from the mallow family of plants, which provide shelter and food to the rabbit. Other plants found in this habitat are West Indian elm, yellow mombin, cecropia, fig, septicweed, petite flamboyant bauhinia, sensitive plant, lobster-claw, grasses, and sedges.

Venezuelan lowland rabbits are herbivorous, and a large portion of their diet comes from plants in the genera Sida and Malvastrum. They engage in the process known as cecotrophy, like all lagomorphs (rabbits, hares, and pikas), in which food passes through the digestive tract twice. The rabbit will immediately consume moist pellets expelled from the anus without chewing and leave behind the dry pellets that are subsequently produced. This process is considered similar to the cud-chewing behavior of ruminants. Reproduction takes place over three quarters of the year, with an average of 2.6 embryos per litter, but most commonly during September through December. The gestation period is 35 days. The females' larger size is attributed to its more sedentary nature, as they are more focused on building a nest and caring for their young. Males expend a great deal of energy trying to defend their territory and maintain their position in social hierarchy. Several species prey upon the Venezuelan lowland rabbit, with the margay and crab-eating fox being the rabbit's main predators. Falcons and owls are also found throughout its distribution. Rabbits are also faced with competition for food from spiny rats. Predation is a factor in observed population declines during the rainy period from April to October. …