Short-eared rabbit (SciiFii)

The short-eared rabbit (Pentalagus americanum) is a species of rabbit, most closely related to the Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi), that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, and scrublands across North America to help boost biodiversity. The short-eared rabbit is almost identical to the Amami rabbit in general appearance. It has short feet and hind legs, a somewhat bulky body, and rather large and curved claws used for digging and sometimes climbing. Its ears are significantly smaller compared to those of other hares or rabbits. The pelage is thick, woolly and dark, brown on top and becomes more reddish-brown on the sides. It has heavy, long and very strong claws, being nearly straight on the forefeet and curved on the hindfeet The eyes are also small compared to more common rabbits and hares. The average weight is 2.5–2.8 kilograms. The short-eared rabbit feeds on over 100 species of plants, consuming mostly the grass, sprouts, young shoots, roots, and acorns. It also eats nuts and cambium of a wide variety of plant species. The short-eared rabbit is observed to feed on the bark of stems and twigs of shrub plants. During summer, the short-eared rabbit primarily feeds on grass, seeds, vegetables, roots, tubers, and bulbs, and during winter, they primarily eat the acorns and other nuts of many tree species, along with pine needles and leaves. This species is nocturnal and reproduces couple of times in late March–May, giving birth to an average six young each time. During the day, the mother digs a hole in the ground, for her young to hide in. At night, she opens the entrance to the hole, while watching for predators (such as venomous snakes), and then nurses her young, after which she closes the hole with soil and plant material by thumping on it with her front paws. Short-eared rabbits sleep during the day in hidden locations, such as caves, burrows, and dens. They are also noted for having a call similar to that of a pika. The conservation status of the short-eared rabbit is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the short-eared rabbit's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.