Venezuelan lowland rabbit
| Venezuelan lowland rabbit | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Lagomorpha |
| Family: | Leporidae |
| Genus: | Sylvilagus |
| Species: | S. varynaensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Sylvilagus varynaensis Durant & Guevara, 2001
| |
| Venezuelan lowland rabbit range | |
The Venezuelan lowland rabbit (Sylvilagus varynaensis) (Spanish: conejo de monte), also known as the Barinas wild rabbit (Spanish: conejo de Barinas), is a species of cottontail rabbit found in western Venezuela. The largest of the rabbits within its limited distribution, it has buff- and reddish-colored fur and eats plants, mainly from the genera Sida and Malvastrum. It is closely related to the common tapeti, a smaller and more widely distributed cottontail rabbit.
The rabbit is prey to margays, crab-eating foxes, falcons, and owls, and is also a potential host to several roundworms and flatworms. It is classified as data deficient by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, as little is known about populations of the rabbit, and much of the material used to describe the species is held privately, inhibiting further research.