A Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis) usually weighs about 1.9 kilograms, and have a white ring around the eye area and a black mark going from the mouth's end over the cheeks. They are found near the bodies of water of Cape Province (South Africa). Riverine Rabbits are basically nocturnal and here is something you'll find either funny or amusing. We all know what the expression 'breed like rabbits' means right? It does not apply to this species of rabbit. A Riverine Rabbit's birth season is between August up to May, and want to know they have just one young, two per year is actually very rare (this could also be a reason, not for the decline of their numbers, but it does not help at all). Their mating system is polygamous in nature.
Way back in 1902, the first Riverine Rabbit became known to the scientific world. They were seen many times from that particular year up to 1948, but after that, all sightings stopped. Then, they were seen again in 1979, it makes us all wonder where they all hid during that interim.
Just like so many other kinds of animals, their numbers are on the decline. Changes in agriculture lead to habitat damage/losses, and this remains to be the principal threat to these rabbits. Not just that though, lumber industry and grazing of livestock, attacks from stray dogs also contribute to this sad decline.
During the wet season, they also survive on grass.
This rabbit is the singular African rabbit whose females make underground burrows for the newborns. It is a nest made of fur and grasses.
Interesting fact These rabbits produce 2 kinds of droppings, yes, 2 kinds. Nighttime, droppings are hard like pellets, while in daytime, they are soft. These soft droppings are re-ingested.
Way back in 1902, the first Riverine Rabbit became known to the scientific world. They were seen many times from that particular year up to 1948, but after that, all sightings stopped. Then, they were seen again in 1979, it makes us all wonder where they all hid during that interim.
Just like so many other kinds of animals, their numbers are on the decline. Changes in agriculture lead to habitat damage/losses, and this remains to be the principal threat to these rabbits. Not just that though, lumber industry and grazing of livestock, attacks from stray dogs also contribute to this sad decline.
This rabbit is the singular African rabbit whose females make underground burrows for the newborns. It is a nest made of fur and grasses.
Interesting fact These rabbits produce 2 kinds of droppings, yes, 2 kinds. Nighttime, droppings are hard like pellets, while in daytime, they are soft. These soft droppings are re-ingested.
The Bushman hare, riverine rabbit is listed as Critically Endangered (CR), facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Namings for the riverine rabbit
A young / baby of a riverine rabbit is called a 'bunny, kit, kitten, leveret or nestling'. The females are called 'doe or jill' and males 'buck or jack'. A riverine rabbit group is called a 'warren, nest, colony, bevy, bury, drove or trace'.Countries
South AfricaSome facts about the
Riverine or bushman rabbit
Adult weight : 1.25 kg (2.75 lbs)
Litter size : 1
Weight at birth : 0.045 kg (0.099 lbs)
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