Omilteme Cottontail

Found only within the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range in the Mexican state of Guerrero, the Omilteme Cottontail is a large rabbit with distinctive long ears and a short tail. Its coarse fur is a mix of red-brown and black on the back, while its sides appear gray-black. This rabbit is recognizable by its bicolored tail, which is reddish-black on top and yellowish underneath. It also features medium-sized hind feet that are white on top with dark brown soles. Around its eyes and nose, the fur is a dull gray. This species is roughly 15.7 to 17.3 inches in length and possesses ears measuring 2.4 to 3.0 inches.

These rabbits are restricted to a small region of less than 193 square miles, specifically inhabiting dense cloud forests at elevations reaching 11,499 feet. Within this steep, wooded terrain, they live among the undergrowth, where they create runways and find shelter in burrows under rocks. They are primarily nocturnal animals. While much of their natural history remains unknown, they share this habitat with many other mammals, including the Mexican cottontail.

Seeing one in the wild is difficult, as no confirmed sightings were recorded for most of the twentieth century. Between the early 1900s and the 1990s, the species went unreported until two individuals were found in 1998. More recent evidence of their presence has been captured using camera traps. The survival of the Omilteme Cottontail is currently threatened by poaching and the destruction of its habitat through deforestation. Although it lives within a protected area, the species is still at risk, and the rugged terrain makes further study of its habits challenging.