Mammals
Volcano Rabbit
Romerolagus diazi · also called zacatuche, teporingo
Moving quietly along a narrow runway cut through dense bunchgrass, a volcano rabbit occasionally gives a distinct high-pitched call, a surprisingly vocal habit for one of the smallest rabbit species in the world, found nowhere beyond a handful of volcanic slopes near Mexico City.
Overview
The volcano rabbit, Romerolagus diazi, is an Endangered mammal native to mountain grassland habitat on a small number of volcanic slopes near Mexico City. Its tiny size, runway-building habit in place of burrows, and unusually vocal nature make it one of the most distinctive and narrowly restricted rabbit species found anywhere in the world.
A rabbit confined to a handful of mountains
Few mammals anywhere live within as narrow a range as the volcano rabbit, whose entire global population survives only on the slopes of a small number of volcanoes, a geographic restriction that leaves it with essentially nowhere to retreat as nearby Mexico City continues to expand.
Status
Endangered, with a population declining due to habitat loss from urban expansion, agriculture, and livestock grazing near Mexico City.
Volcano Rabbit: common questions
Why is the volcano rabbit considered so vulnerable?
It is restricted to the slopes of a small number of volcanoes near Mexico City, an extremely limited range now further threatened by urban expansion, agriculture, and livestock grazing.
Does the volcano rabbit dig burrows like other rabbits?
No, it creates small runways and tunnels through dense bunchgrass rather than digging burrows, a different approach from many other rabbit species.
Is the volcano rabbit unusually noisy for a rabbit?
Yes, it makes distinct high-pitched calls, a level of vocalisation unusual among rabbit species generally.
Where is the volcano rabbit found?
It is native to mountain grassland habitat on a small number of volcanic slopes near Mexico City, found nowhere else in the world.