Confirmation of the occurrence of Andean cottontail, Sylvilagus andinus (Thomas, 1897) (Leporidae, Lagomorpha), in Peru

Abstract

Sylvilagus andinus (Thomas, 1897) is a highland lagomorph from the Ecuadorean Paramos. Its distribution was tentatively believed to extend to northwestern Peru on the basis of ecological niche modeling and the inclusion of the Peruvian S. capsalis Thomas, 1913 as a synonym. Here, we confirm the occurrence of S. andinus in Peru by a morphological examination of seven new records from northwestern Peru and one new record from Ancash department in central Peru.