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Rabbits Pikas and Hares: Lagomorpha

Conservation Status



Six species of lagomorphs are listed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as Critically Endangered, facing an extremely high risk of extinction. Twelve species are listed as Endangered, facing a very high risk of extinction; fourteen species are listed as Vulnerable, facing a high risk of extinction; and one species, the Sardinian pika is listed as Extinct, died out. Eight species are listed as Near Threatened, not currently threatened, but could become so.



The primary reason for declining populations of lagomorphs are loss of habitat, disease, especially the pox virus myxomatosis (mix-oh-mah-TOE-sus), and conversion of habitats to agricultural use by humans.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Books:

Macdonald, David. The New Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 2001.

Miller, Sara Swan. Rabbits, Pikas, and Hares. New York: Franklin Watts, Inc., 2002.

Morris, Ting. Rabbit (Animal Families.) Mankato, MN: Smart Apple Media, 2004.

National Research Council. "Rabbits." In Microlivestock: Little-Known Small Animals with a Promising Economic Future. Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 1991. Online at http://books.nap.edu/books/030904295X/html/179.html (accessed on July 12, 2004).

National Research Council. "Domestic Rabbit." In Microlivestock: Little-Known Small Animals with a Promising Economic Future. Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 1991. Online at http://books.nap.edu/books/030904295X/html/183.html (accessed on July 12, 2004).

Nowak, Ronald M. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999.

Swanson, Diane. Welcome to the World of Rabbits and Hares. Portland, OR: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Co., 2000.

Swanson, Diane. Rabbits and Hares (Welcome to the World of Animals). Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens, 2002.

Periodicals:

Chapman, Joseph A., et al. "Sylvilagus floridanus." Mammalian Species (April 15, 1980): 1–8.

Cohen, Philip. "Rabbit-Human Stem Cell Claims Provoke Controversy and Doubt: Scientists in China Say Stem Cell Capable of Forming Muscle or Nerve Tissue can be Derived by Interspecies Cloning, Overcoming the Shortage of Human Eggs." New Scientist (August 23, 2003): 14.

Graur, Dan, et al. "Phylogenetic Position of the Order Lagomorpha (Rabbits, Hares, and Allies.)" Nature January 25, 1996): 333–335.

Hacklander, Klaus, et al. "The Effect of Dietary Fat Content on Lactation Energetics in the European Hare (Lepus europaeus)." Physiological and Biochemical Zoology (January 2002): 19–28.

Krebs, Charles J., et al. "What Drives the 10-Year Cycle of Snowshoe Hares?" BioScience (January 2001): 25.

Roach, John. "Rabbit Woes: Easter Icons Face Survival Struggles." National Geographic News (April 17, 2003). Online at http://news. nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0417_030417_rabbits.html (accessed on July 12, 2004).

Smith, Andrew T., and Marla L. Weston. "Ochotona princeps." Mammalian Species (April 26, 1990): 1–8.

Sohn, Emily. "Now Mammals are Feeling the Heat." New Scientist (October 5, 2002): 9.

Web sites:

House Rabbit Society. http://www.rabbit.org (accessed on July 12, 2004).

Myers, Phil. "Order Lagomorpha." Animal Diversity Web. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lagomorpha.html (accessed on July 12, 2004).

IUCN/SSC Lagomorph Specialist Group. http://www.ualberta.ca/dhik/lsg (accessed on July 12, 2004).

Additional topics

Animal Life ResourceMammalsRabbits Pikas and Hares: Lagomorpha - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Lagomorphs And People, Conservation Status - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET