Sumatran Striped Rabbit

Often called the rarest rabbit in the world, the Sumatran Striped Rabbit is a slow-moving, solitary creature that is active at night. It is roughly the same size as a European rabbit but has a wider head and a less prominent muzzle. Its dense, soft coat of yellowish grey is marked by dark brown or black stripes, turning a rusty brown near the rump. The ears are notably short, reaching only to the eyes when folded forward. During the day, it remains almost still, hiding in tree hollows or the burrows of other animals.

This species is native to the Barisan Mountains in northwest Sumatra, though sightings have occurred in the southern and western parts of the island. It lives in montane forests, typically at altitudes between 600 and 1,600 metres, where it stays within thick undergrowth and avoids open spaces. Its diet consists of the leaves and stalks of understory plants, particularly those in the genus Cyrtandra, as well as fallen native fruits. It does not eat cultivated grains or fruits.

Human activity poses the primary threat to this rabbit. Large areas of its forest home have been cleared for timber or replaced with coffee and tea plantations. While people do not hunt it for food because it is said to taste bad, the animals are sometimes caught in snares meant for other species. They are also taken from the wild to be sold as exotic pets. Because it is so rarely seen, very little is known about how it breeds or its general ecology.