Amami rabbit

The Amami rabbit, Pentalagus furnessi, occurs naturally only on Amami-Ōshima and Tokunoshima in Japan’s Ryukyu Islands. It is nocturnal and is associated with the islands’ subtropical forest environments. A 2025 study describes the species as endangered and facing habitat disturbance, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining its forest ecosystem and addressing human–wildlife conflicts. This restricted distribution makes the condition of the two island habitats particularly significant for the species.

Research on the rabbit’s diet illustrates the ecological complexity of its island habitat. A 2025 fecal-DNA metabarcoding study analyzed samples from six rabbits and detected 85 plant operational taxonomic units; individual diets included 17 to 38 plant species, with differences among individuals. A separate 2023 study in Ecology documented a relationship in which a non-photosynthetic plant provides vegetative tissue to the rabbit in connection with seed dispersal. Together, the studies highlight how species interactions and varied plant communities can inform habitat management.

The Amami rabbit is listed as endangered, and conservation efforts focus on protecting its forest habitat and sustaining coexistence between wildlife and island communities. Amami-Ōshima and Tokunoshima were inscribed together as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2021. Protected-area designation is one part of a broader conservation context; the research also stresses habitat preservation, reliable food resources, and mitigation of human–wildlife conflicts. These priorities are especially important for a species whose natural range is confined to two islands.