LAGOMORPHA

Lagomorpha Id code: amd227

Leporidae
Oryctolagus cuniculus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

(Eng) European rabbit

(Fre) Lapin de Garenne

Taxonomic notes

Two subspecies are usually considered: O. c. huxleyi and O. c. cuniculus. It is not clear whether the rabbit was endemic to north-western Africa, or whether its presence there is the result of a very early introduction; in any case, North African rabbits are thought to belong to the subspecies O. c. huxleyi, which is also present in south-western Spain, and from which the domestic rabbit probably originated (Kingdon, 1997; Chapman & Flux, 1990).

IUCN threat category

Lower Risk, least concern (LR: lc).

Available information

Literature available on its ecology in Africa is very scarce. Some information is found in Kingdon (1997), Skinner & Smithers (1990) and Stuart & Stuart (1997). Its occurrence in part of Morocco is briefly described in Ribi (1992), while Flux & Fullagar (1983) discuss its overall distribution. Its status and distribution are analysed in Chapman & Flux (1990).

Known extent of occurrence

The European rabbit is recorded in Morocco and north Algeria (which are probably part of the original range of the species), and has been introduced in western Namibia and southern South Africa both on the mainland and on offshore islands (Chapman & Flux, 1990; Mills & Hes, 1997). Flux & Fullagar (1983) report this species to be present as well on numerous other islands of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Its distribution map was obtained by acquiring and overlaying the two maps in Chapman & Flux (1990) and Skinner & Smithers (1990); the result is shown in Fig. 11.1.7.a.

Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model

This species is known to prefer grassy or bushy areas with loose, easily dug soils, and to avoid mountains, large forests, densely wooded land and deserts (Chapman & Flux, 1990; Haltenorth & Diller, 1980; Kingdon, 1997).

Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned (Fig. 11.1.7.b) (11.1.7.a):

Score
1	Grasslands, bushlands and their mosaics; semi-desert vegetation.
2	Croplands; dense woodlands; forest mosaics.
3	Forests; absolute desert; montane vegetation.

	suitable		moderately suitable		unsuitable		Total
OCCURRENCE	km²	%	km²	%	km²	%	km²	%
certain	47 199	20	108 295	46	51 827	22	207 321	88
introduced	14 798	6	5 858	2	7 290	3	27 946	12
Total	61 997	26	114 153	49	59 117	25	235 267	100

Tab 11.1.7.a: Cumulative size (km²) of areas pertaining to each environmental suitability class within the Extent of Occurrence.

	Number Patches (NP)	Mean Patch Size (MPS) km²	Patch Size SD (PSSD) km²	Largest Patch Index (LPI) %	Mean Shape Index (MSI)	Area-Weighted Mean Shape Index (AWMSI)
suitable	253	242	1 272	9.44	1.3	4.41
moderately suitable	122	942	7 300	43.51	1.42	14.16
Total AO	35	5 032	25 696	87.58	1.59	10.97

Tab 11.1.7.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes.

Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model

The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 11.1.7.c.

Validation

% of EO in sample areas	Number of valid plots	Index of Accordance (%)
69.11	56	69.64

Tab 11.1.7.c: Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model validation parameters.

Comments and conservation issues

This species’ original range is restricted to a narrow area in Morocco and Algeria, where the CD model, well supported by the validation parameters (Index of Accordance = 69.64%), identifies only 20% of the EO as suitable and 46% as moderately suitable. Fragmentation of the suitable areas is also very high (LPI = 9.44%), but is greatly reduced by the contribution of the moderately suitable areas (87.58% for the total AO). The populations introduced in Southern Africa have suitable areas in coastal South Africa but not in Namibia. Virtually none of the total AO is included in the existing protected areas, but the species is classified as Lower Risk, least concern in Africa.

OCCURRENCE	SUITABILITY CLASS	inside	outside	Total
certain	suitable	0.01	20.05	20.06
	moderately suitable	0.06	45.97	46.03
	unsuitable	0.15	21.88	22.03
introduced	suitable	0	6.29	6.29
	moderately suitable	0.09	2.40	2.49
	unsuitable	1.52	1.57	3.10
Total		1.84	98.16	100

Tab 11.1.7.d: Percent of environmental suitability classes within EO (as obtained from the categorical-discrete distribution model) inside and outside the protected areas.

References

Chapman J.A., Flux J.E.C. (Eds) (1990). Rabbits, Hares and Pikas: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Lagomorph Specialist Group.

Flux J.E.C., Fullagar P.J. (1983). World distribution of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Acta Zoologica Fennica: 174, 75-77.

Haltenorth T., Diller H. (1980). A field guide to the mammals of Africa, including Madagascar. Collins, London.

Kingdon J. (1997). The Kingdon field guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, London and New York: Natural World.

Mills G., Hes L. (1997). The complete book of Southern African mammals. Struik Publishers.

Ribi M. (1992). Etude écologique de la region du Parc national d'Al-Hoceima (orientation d'amenagement). Memoire de 3ème cycle agronomique (option Eaux et Forets). Ph.D. Thesis.

Skinner J.D., Smithers R.H.N. (1990). The mammals of the Southern African subregion. University of Pretoria, Pretoria.

Stuart C., Stuart T. (1997). Field guide to the larger mammals of Africa. Struik Publishers.