Genetics
The Annammite striped rabbit resembles the Sumatran striped rabbit morphologically in all aspects except some characteristics of the cranium, but it differs considerably in genetics. Significant differences in mtDNA were found through genetic analysis.Characteristics
''Nesolagus timminsi'' is a short-eared, short-tailed rabbit with a rust-colored rump and black or dark brown stripes running along the back. No specific measurements have been made.Range and distribution
The range of ''Nesolagus timminsi'' includes the Northern and Central Annamites, and possibly the Southern Annamites. Very little is known of its ecology, nor why there is a thousand-mile gap between it and its nearest relative, the Sumatran striped rabbit (''Nesolagus netscheri''). Molecular analysis indicates that the two diverged from a common ancestor about eight million years ago, in the Pliocene epoch. They may have survived in forested refugia that remained when glacial ice sheets retreated after the last ice age. ''N. timminsi'' apparently coexists with the Burmese hare in a sympatric relationship.Behavior and ecology
Nothing is known about ''N. timminsi'' in regards to its reproduction. It is unknown if anyThreats and conservation
''N. timminsi'' is primarily threatened by hunting, as it is often caught in snare traps set both by subsistence hunters and poaching operations. Hunting by dogs is also a likely impact on the species. Agricultural cultivation and extensive road building throughout Laos and Vietnam have caused habitat loss and degradation, but hunting remains the primary threat. It Is found in conservation areas Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Nakai–Nam Theun and Umat. Laos and Vietnam both have no conservation measures for this species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as endangered based on the high level of snaring activity in Vietnam, which is causing sharp declines in all ground-dwelling small mammals in the region.References
External links
*