Taxonomic identity of invasive rabbits in Cuba: first record of Eastern Cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus (Mammalia: Lagomorpha)

By

Mancina, Carlos A.
García Tió, Efrén
Borroto-Páez, Rafael
Díaz, Hector M.
Cervantes, Fernando A.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2015-12-23

Original Publication

Check list : journal of species lists and distribution

Volume

11

Series / Issue

Issue: 6

Pages

1820--7

Subjects

Eastern Cottontail , introduced mammal , new record , niche modeling , Oryctolagus cuniculus , West Indies

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

[São Paulo, Brazil] Luís Felipe Toledo 2005-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/11.6.1820

 

Abstract

In islands of the West Indian zoogeographical region, rabbits are not native, and wild populations are the result of introductions. Oryctolagus cuniculus is the only lagomorph listed among the introduced mammals of the Cuban archipelago. We analyzed specimens of wild rabbits and we report the occurrence of Sylvilagus floridanus for the first time in Cuba. Capture data suggest that their distribution is currently limited to the west-central region of the island. However, the niche models showed high climatic suitability throughout the majority of Cuba, suggesting a high expansion probability.