Otsuka J, Toyomitsu Y, Nishinakagawa H
Jikken Dobutsu. 1980 Oct;29(4):441-55.
The Ossa cranii and ossa trunci in Lepus brachyurus brachyurus, Pentalagus furnessi and Oryctolagus cuniculus (strain : JW-NIBS) were investigated morphologically and osteometrically. The number of coccygeal vertebrae is 10-12 in Lepus, 10-11 in Pentalagus and 15-17 in JW-NIBS. The number of upper cheek teeth of Pentalagus is six on one side. Therefore, Lyon's view that the number of upper cheek teeth of Pentalagus is five may not be applicable to use as one of the discriminative characteristics. The sizes of orbit and tympanic bullae in Pentalagus are remarkably small. The length of neurocranium and the inner breadth of caudal surface of vertebral foramina in cervical, thoracic and lumber vertebrae in JW-NIBS are small than those in Lepus and Pentalagus. Among three genera, there are conspicuous differences in shapes of spinous and transverse processus in the lumber vertebrae. The coefficient of variability of the measurements in JW-NIBS is smaller than that in Lepus.
对短耳兔指名亚种（Lepus brachyurus brachyurus）、琉球兔（Pentalagus furnessi）和家兔（Oryctolagus cuniculus，品系：JW-NIBS）的颅骨和躯干骨进行了形态学和骨测量学研究。短耳兔的尾椎数量为10 - 12枚，琉球兔为10 - 11枚，JW-NIBS品系的家兔为15 - 17枚。琉球兔一侧上颌颊齿数量为6颗。因此，莱昂认为琉球兔上颌颊齿数量为5颗的观点可能不适用于作为鉴别特征之一。琉球兔的眼眶和鼓泡尺寸明显较小。JW-NIBS品系家兔的脑颅长度以及颈椎、胸椎和腰椎椎体孔尾面的内宽度均小于短耳兔和琉球兔。在三个属中，腰椎的棘突和横突形状存在明显差异。JW-NIBS品系测量值的变异系数小于短耳兔。
