The Tehuantepec jackrabbit is a medium-sized hare species native to eastern Oaxaca, Mexico. These critters face many threats to their survival including the threats of habitat loss at the hands of residential and commercial developments, farming, ranching, logging, fires, and fire suppression; habitat division at the hands of roads and railroads, that can result in vehicle strike (being hit be vehicles); hunting; trapping; recreational activities, which are responsible for breeding interruptions and more; invasive species, that can result in predation and disease; and climate change, that causes not only droughts, but flooding. The IUCN lists these hares as Endangered. Their populations are also decreasing.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Lepus flavigularis
Weight: Up to 6.4 lbs.
Length: Up to 24 inches, plus up to a 3.7 inch tail
Lifespan: Up to 5+/- years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) These jackrabbits are the most endangered of all species of hares.
2.) They were first described by Johann Andreas Wagner in 1844 in a reassessment of Johann Georg Wagler’s 1830 description of numerous Mexican hares.
3.) Their other common name is liebre tropical which translates to tropical hare.
4.) The Tehuantepec jackrabbit has 48 diploid chromosomes, just like every other member of Lepus. Their fundamental number of chromosomes is 88, and they have a large X chromosome, a trait shared by the antelope jackrabbit and black-tailed jackrabbit.
5.) Like other jackrabbits, these critters possess large ears and hind feet. Their ears measure up to 4.7 inches and their hind feet 5.3 inches.
But wait, there’s more on the Tehuantepec jackrabbit!
6.) They prefer habitats that consist of tropical dry savannas dominated by native grasses that have a canopy of sparse nanche bushes, with a scattering of morro trees. These lagomorphs can also be seen among coastal grassy dunes.
7.) They dwell from sea level up to 2,185 feet elevations.
Did you know…?
As of 2019 there were only an estimated 292 wild individuals remaining.
8.) These hares are both nocturnal (active at night) and crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk).
9.) Not being territorial, when not feeding, they will both groom themselves and socialize with others.
10.) During the day they sleep among grasses, shrubs, and under nopales either by themselves or in downs of up to 12 individuals.
But wait, there’s still more on the Tehuantepec jackrabbit!
11.) Their habitat is shared with the nine-banded armadillo, hooded skunk, western hog-nosed skunk, the Virginia opossum, the gray mouse opossum, the common raccoon, and the the eastern cottontail.
12.) Dogs, cats, coyotes, and gray foxes all prey on these jackrabbits.
Did you know…?
The nematode Pelecitus meridionaleporinus is known to parasitize these hares by infecting subcutaneous (under the epidermis) tissue at the base of the ears.
13.) Various grasses and up to 18 species of plants are grazed upon.
14.) The breeding season lasts from February – December.
15.) Females undergo up to a 32 day gestation (pregnancy) that yields up to 4 leverets. Several broods are produced each year.
16.) They are protected by conservation sites across their entire range, and monitoring and recovery plans are in place. illegal hunting and poaching still occurs though.
Now a Short Tehuantepec Jackrabbit Video!
This video talks about jackrabbits in general.
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
Photo credit: tereso30
