Romerolagus – Volcano rabbit

A tiny, secretive rabbit that lives high on the slopes of volcanoes near Mexico City, and it looks more like a round, furry field mouse than the classic long-eared bunny most people imagine. Their fur is a mix of brown, grey and black that blends perfectly with volcanic soil and dry grass, and their ears are short and rounded instead of long and upright. The tail is so small it’s almost invisible, tucked under the fur so there’s no white “cotton ball” flashing as they move. This compact, low-profile build lets the volcano rabbit slip easily through the dense clumps of bunchgrasses it calls home, disappearing into what looks like solid vegetation in a single quick hop.

This species lives only in a very small area of central Mexico, on the high slopes and flanks of a handful of volcanoes, including Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. Its habitat is a rugged mix of pine and alder forest, open shrubland and patches of tall bunchgrasses called zacatón. In these cool, windswept grasslands, the volcano rabbit spends most of its time in and around thick clumps of zacatón. It uses natural gaps and shallow burrows to create a network of runways and hiding places, ducking into them whenever danger threatens. Unlike big burrowing rabbits that build deep warrens, it usually relies on short tunnels, rock crevices or dens under grass roots—bolt-holes rather than underground cities. The grasses it hides in are also its main food: it nibbles young shoots, leaves and bark, supplemented with a few other alpine plants.

The volcano rabbit is unusual among rabbits not just in size and home, but in how it communicates. When alarmed, it gives high-pitched, squeaky calls, a bit like a tiny whistle, to warn others, instead of relying mainly on thumping its feet. Small groups of two to five animals may share a patch of habitat, using the same runways and shelters, but they are quiet and shy, venturing out mostly in the early morning and late evening to feed.