Volcano rabbit (teporingo): a small endangered rabbit of central Mexico

Appearance and behaviour

Adults are compact, with short ears and legs relative to other rabbits, an adaptation to living among dense tussock grasses and rocky volcanic slopes. They are mainly crepuscular and use runways and nests built within thick grass clumps to shelter from predators and cold. Volcano rabbits are more social than many solitary lagomorphs and may live in small family groups.

Habitat and range

This rabbit occupies a small area of central Mexico, living on fragmented patches of high-elevation grassland and scrub on the Trans‑Mexican Volcanic Belt. Known stands of suitable habitat total roughly 280 square kilometers, concentrated around volcanic slopes and nearby forests. Their range lies within Mexican territory, where local conservation measures are implemented; see general country context at Mexico resources.

Diet and reproduction

The volcano rabbit’s diet consists mainly of grasses, herbs and tender shoots found in its dense grassy habitat; it may also browse on shrubs and young woody stems. Breeding tends to produce small litters and is influenced by seasonal food availability, which makes population recovery slower than for many lowland rabbit species.

Threats and conservation

Main threats include habitat loss and fragmentation from agriculture, urban expansion, livestock grazing and fire. Predation by native and introduced predators adds pressure in fragmented areas. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as endangered; more information is available from the IUCN Red List entry: IUCN assessment. Mexican and international conservation efforts focus on habitat protection, management of grazing and fire regimes, and environmental education. Conservation programs and research partnerships are described at conservation programs.

Cultural and ecological notes

The volcano rabbit is both an ecological indicator of highland grassland health and a cultural emblem in some local communities. Its dependence on a narrow habitat type makes it a priority for habitat-based conservation, and protecting it benefits other high-elevation species and ecosystem functions.

• Scientific name: Romerolagus diazi
• Status: Endangered
• Primary habitat: High-elevation volcanic grasslands and scrub