Pentalagus furnessi food plants at two sites on the western Amami-Oshima Island, Japan

Abstract

 Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) dwell only on Amami-Oshima Island and Tokunoshima Island in southern Japan. These rabbits are sometimes rescued in traffic accidents. In such cases, the rabbits should be fed food that they consume naturally to adequately rear them. To clarify the food resources, we surveyed feeding signs of Amami rabbits on May, July and October in 2019 and February in 2020 at two sites (Sumiyou and Yamato) on Amami-Oshima Island. We recorded approximately 80 plant species consumed by the Amami rabbit. The leaves of the plants were most often eaten.