After being considered extinct for more than a century, the Omiltemi rabbit reappeared in the Sierra Madre del Sur, in Guerrero. The species was captured on video using camera traps implemented by Dr. Fernando Ruiz.
The Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMAREN) of Guerrero shared information about this historic discovery, which was also accompanied by a video showing the specimen, which had not been seen for 120 years.
In the post shared on social media, SEMAREN noted that the rediscovery was possible thanks to the camera trap monitoring work of Dr. Fernando Ruiz, who managed to capture images of this enigmatic species in its natural habitat.
It was also highlighted that a team of researchers from the Institute for Biodiversity Management and Conservation, led by José Alberto Almazán Catalán, joined the effort.
The Omiltemi rabbit is a species endemic to the Sierra Madre del Sur, in the state of Guerrero. Its fur is black with reddish hues on the back, while the belly is white except for the neck, which has an ochre hue.
Historically, only four specimens have been recorded, the fourth being a skin donated by hunters. Furthermore, the last known record of this species was in 1904.
It was known that its habitat was near the town of Omiltemi, in the municipality of Chilpancingo, and that it is a nocturnal animal.
Source: oem
