Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae

Listing Status:    and  

General Information

The Pygmy Rabbit, Brachylagus idahoensis is a North American rabbit, and is one of only two rabbit species in America to dig its own burrow. The Pygmy Rabbit differs significantly from species within either the Lepus or Sylvilagus genera and is generally considered to be within the monotypic genus Brachylagus.

Population detail

The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the Pygmy Rabbit 

  • Population location: Columbia Basin DPS
    Listing status:  Endangered
    • States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:  Washington
  • Population location: 
    Listing status:  Under Review
Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
11/30/2001 Pacific Region (Region 1) Columbia Basin DPS
Pacific Region (Region 1)

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 14 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
10/08/2008 73 FR 58975 58976 Receipt of an Application for an Enhancement of Survival Permit for the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit
01/08/2008 73 FR 1312 1313 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) as Threatened or Endangered
09/07/2007 72 FR 51461 51462 Draft Recovery Plan for Columbia Basin Distinct Population Segment of the Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis)
04/25/2007 72 FR 20557 20558 Receipt of Applications for Endangered Species Act Enhancement of Survival Permits Developed in Accordance With a Template Safe Harbor Agreement for the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit
09/07/2006 71 FR 52816 52818 Draft Template Safe Harbor Agreement, Draft Environmental Assessment, and Receipt of Applications for Enhancement of Survival Permits

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
09/07/2007 Draft Recovery Plan for the Columbia Basin Distinct Population Segment of the Pygmy Rabbit(Brachylagus idahoensis) View Implementation Progress Draft
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
09/07/2007 72 FR 51461 51462 Draft Recovery Plan for Columbia Basin Distinct Population Segment of the Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis)
  • Notice Draft Recovery Plan Availability

    • » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Pygmy Rabbit.

    » Conservation Plans

    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA): (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1 )
    SHA Plan Summaries
    Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit Template SHA

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 2 of 2 )
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    01/08/2008 73 FR 1312 1313 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) as Threatened or Endangered
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial
    • 05/20/2005 70 FR 29253 29265 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the Pygmy Rabbit as Threatened or Endangered
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 21, 2009