The tapeti (Sylvilagus brasiliensis), also known as the bush hare or bush rabbit, is a mammal belonging to the order Lagomorpha and the family Leporidae (Pessoa, 2014). Although the taxonomic characterization of the genus in Brazil is not perfectly agreed among specialists, in general, the species is considered to be the only one of the genus Sylvilagus to inhabit South America exclusively, occurring from the west coast of Mexico to the north of Argentina (Pessoa, 2014). In Brazil, tapeti can be found in all biomes.
Tapetis have dense fur, dark brown dorsally and white with a gray base ventrally. They have short ears and pelvic limbs, and are smaller than domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), weighing between 1 and 1.5 kg. In addition, their length varies between 21 and 47 centimeters, with males usually smaller than females (Pessoa, 2014). It is a solitary animal that feeds mainly on seeds, roots, leaves and fruit, inhabiting mainly dense forests, and can be found in marshes and riverbanks. The species has nocturnal habits, with greater activity after dark and just before dawn, hiding in shelters such as hollow logs or holes during the day (Onçafari, 2024). The gestation period of a female tapeti lasts between 28 and 44 days, giving birth to between one and six cubs per litter. The nest is made of dry grass or leaves and contains a kind of lining made of the female's own hair, making the environment more comfortable for the young (Onçafari, 2024).
Although it has been classified as low concern by ICMBIO's Red Book of Endangered Brazilian Fauna, the tapeti was considered threatened in 2019 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with declining populations (Ruedas & Smith, 2019). Among the main threats to the species' survival are illegal hunting for culinary purposes, since the high value of its meat makes it a lucrative activity, and the introduction of exotic species, such as the European hare (Lepus europaeus), which competes with native animals for resources and territory.
It is also important to note that, like the chaparral rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani), which inhabits a narrow portion of North America, the tapeti is a natural reservoir of the myxomavirus, which is widely distributed around the world. In these native hares, the virus leads to the development of benign skin fibromas. However, in rabbits and hares of European origin, the virus leads to the development of systemic myxomatosis, characterized by the development of fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, skin lesions, facial and ocular edema, dyspnea, conjunctivitis, blindness, and eventually death. The prognosis of the disease is unfavorable, since there are no effective virostatic agents (Pessoa, 2014; Bertagnoli & Maschandeau, 2015). Myxomatosis is a notifiable disease for any confirmed case (Brazil, 2013), and is currently the main threat to rabbit farming systems (WOAH, 2021) and rabbits kept as pets. Therefore, the free presence of these domestic animals in places where wild animals live is a high risk, since the virus is transmitted mechanically by arthropods, direct contact and fomites (Pessoa, 2014; Penedo, 2023).
There are currently no projects specifically dedicated to tapiti, so conservation of the ecosystems that shelter them is the main protection tool being used. Thus, conservation efforts should be directed at this species, for example, through the creation of conservation breeding grounds and environmental education activities for the lay population, in order to avoid more catastrophic scenarios in the future.
Author: Amanda de Castro - GEAS Brazil Outreach Director
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