Nature Field Guide
Dice’s Cottontail
- Spanish name
- Conejo de Dice
- Scientific name
- Sylvilagus dicei
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
Dice's cottontail is a mountain rabbit found in Costa Rica and western Panama.
Species overview
About the Dice’s Cottontail
Dice's cottontail is a mountain rabbit found in Costa Rica and western Panama. It is associated with highland landscapes such as cloud forest, upland woodland and grassy or shrubby areas nearby. Its subdued brown coat helps it blend into vegetation. Several rabbits occur in Costa Rica, and identifying them often requires locality and expert comparison. Habitat fragmentation is a concern for this species. A mountain forest is more than a place with tall trees: its cool conditions and surrounding vegetation support animals that may not thrive in hotter lowlands.
Explorer activity: Draw a mountain from lowlands to its summit. Mark where a highland rabbit might find cool shelter and connected vegetation.
Your discovery notes: Record the date, place and habitat. Add a sketch or a photograph taken from a distance. Write what you observed and one question you would like to investigate. If the species is uncertain, keep that uncertainty in your notes.
Identification
Key Features of the Dice’s Cottontail
Small brown rabbit with fairly short ears.
Often a darker or reddish area around the nape.
Highland locality is important; appearance alone may be insufficient.
Habitat & range
Costa Rican highlands, including the Talamanca mountain region.
Local observations
Recorded in Costa Rica. This is a country-level profile; it does not establish occurrence in every province, town or nature site.
When to observe
Use local guide knowledge; this card does not assign a fixed daily activity schedule.
Conservation & care
Explore with an adult or local guide. Observe quietly from a distance, stay on established trails and leave shelter undisturbed. Do not feed, touch, capture or corner wildlife. Keep pets away.
Conservation assessment
Global IUCN category reported by Mammal Diversity Database, checked October 2026. Vulnerable means assessed as facing a high risk of extinction in the wild; it does not mean every local population has the same condition.
Observation activity
Draw a mountain from lowlands to its summit. Mark where a highland rabbit might find cool shelter and connected vegetation.
Explore by location
Central Highlands · Cartago · Heredia · Puntarenas · San José