Oryctolagus algirus

(Loche, 1867)

Iberian Rabbit

Taxonomy

Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Placentalia
Magnorder: Boreoeutheria
Superorder: Euarchontoglires
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Genus: Oryctolagus

Species status

Living
Found in the wild

Authority citation

Loche, G.G. 1867. Exploration scientifique de l'Algérie pendant les années 1840, 1841, 1842. Histoire naturelle des mammifères. Arthus Bertrand, Paris, 123 pp.

Authority publication link

https://books.google.com/books?id=n1NBAAAAcAAJ

Original name as described

Cuniculus Algirus

Type material

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Type locality

"Algérie"

Biogeographic realm

Palearctic

Country distribution

Algeria · Azores · Canary Islands · Madeira · Morocco · Portugal · Spain

Taxonomy notes

split from O. cuniculus, however the relationship of North African populations (for which the name algirus originates) are not currently known; the species is tentatively recognized here as including North African populations; if this species is restricted to Iberia, then the name huxleyi would be the oldest name available

Taxonomy notes citation

Villafuerte, R., Alves, P.C., Carneiro, M., Castro, F., Esteves, P.J., Fa, J.E., Ferrand, N., Piorno, V., Queiros, J., Rouco, C., Vaquerizas, P.H. and Delibes-Mateos, M. 2026. When taxonomy lags behind evolution: Conservation implications of cryptic diversity in the Iberian rabbit. Biological Conservation 321:112001. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2026.112001

IUCN Red List status

Not Evaluated

Species Permalink

https://mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1007060

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details.

Total: 8 names and synonyms.

Cuniculus algirus

Loche, 1858

Family

Leporidae

Root name

algirus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Original type locality

Environs d'Alger

Type locality

Algeria.

Authority page

27

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41949401

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Loche (1858:27, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41949401) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60564)

Cuniculus Algirus

Loche, 1867

Family

Leporidae

Root name

algirus

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Original type locality

Algérie

Type locality

Algeria.

Authority page

122

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Loche (1867:122) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68800)

Lepus Huxleyi

Haeckel, 1874

Family

Leporidae

Root name

huxleyi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1868.2.19.117

Type kind

holotype

Original type locality

Porto-Santo

Type locality

Portugal: Madeira: 33°3′57″N, 16°20′10″W.

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/351ac8b1-340a-4db2-bef0-2d04fdf007d4

Authority page

130

Authority publication

Paris

Oryctolagus cuniculus huxleyi:

G. S. Miller, 1912

Family

Leporidae

Root name

huxleyi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

491

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8421810

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Name usages

Miller (1912:491, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8421810) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/5948)
Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951:444, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8722745) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/31900)
Hoffmann & Smith (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8541)
Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:126) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus:

Trouessart, 1917

Family

Leporidae

Root name

algirus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

369

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5036338

Authority publication

Bulletin du Muséum national d'histoire naturelle

Name usages

Trouessart (1917:369, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5036338) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/73052)
Cabrera (1923:367) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/73041)
Allen (1939:279, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2782140) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/5450)
Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951:444, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8722745) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/31900)
Hoffmann & Smith (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8541)
Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:126) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Oryctolagus cuniculus oreas

Cabrera, 1922

Family

Leporidae

Root name

oreas

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type locality

Morocco: 35°10′8″N, 5°15′49″W.

Authority page

112

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1818459

Authority publication

Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural

Name usages

Cabrera (1923:367) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/73041)
Allen (1939:280, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2782141) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/5450)
Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951:444, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8722745) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/31900)
Hoffmann & Smith (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8541)

Oryctolagus cuniculus habetensis

Cabrera, 1923

Family

Leporidae

Root name

habetensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MNCN 22.1.12.27

Type kind

holotype

Original type locality

Dar Amezuk, kabila de Anyera

Type locality

Morocco.

Authority page

366

Authority publication

Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural

Name usages

Cabrera (1923:366) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/73041)
Allen (1939:280, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2782141) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/5450)
Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951:444, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8722745) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/31900)
Hoffmann & Smith (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8541)
Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:126) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Oryctolagus algirus:

Villafuerte, Alves, M. Carneiro, F. Castro, Esteves, Fa, Ferrand, Piorno, Queiros, Rouco, Vaquerizas, & Delibes-Mateos, 2026

Family

Leporidae

Root name

algirus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

2

Authority publication

Biological Conservation

Name usages

Villafuerte, Alves, Carneiro, Castro, Esteves, Fa, Ferrand, Piorno, Queiros, Rouco, Vaquerizas & Delibes-Mateos (2026:2) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/72983)

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