About Sylvilagus andinus (Thomas, 1897)
The Andean tapeti (Sylvilagus andinus), also called the Andean cottontail, is a species of cottontail rabbit native to Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Ecuador. It was previously classified as a subspecies of the common tapeti (Sylvilagus brasiliensis), and a 2017 genetic and morphological analysis confirmed that it is distinct enough to be recognized as a separate species. This species lives at high elevations in the treeless Páramo of the Andes. It fills an important ecological role: it is a widespread herbivore that feeds on a wide variety of plant species, and it is also a key food source for multiple predators. Measured characteristics of the species include a head and body length between 326 and 353 mm, a small tail that makes up 6 to 7% of its head and body length, and long hindfeet measuring 64 to 81 mm. It has a dusky overall appearance, with brown shading across its forehead, ashy gray coloring on its cheeks and the sides of its neck, and a whitish chin and belly. Although the Andean tapeti is widespread, it remains poorly studied, because few studies have examined its biology and habits separately from those of the common tapeti.
