The swamp rabbit is the largest member of the cottontail genus. The underside of the tail is white, giving it the common name of cottontail. The occurrence of embryo resorption has been seen in S. aquaticus; this loss of in-utero litters is attributed to some type of habitat disturbance such as flooding, which may cause overcrowding to occur. [7], S. aquaticus is the largest of the cottontail species, although its ears are smaller than of other cottontails. Swamp rabbits frequent a definite local range which they refuse to leave, even when pursued by dogs. The females give birth to up to six offspring. Swamp rabbits weigh between three and six pounds. [6] It is most abundant in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, but also inhabits South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Georgia. Greenville Swamp Rabbits . The ranges of these animals were originally disjunct, but O. cuniculus is now feral in the range of L. americanus.High rates of fertilization occur in rabbits inseminated with hare semen, but less than 10% of hare oocytes are fertilized with rabbit semen. However, this feature is not present in … [6], Rival males will often engage in aggressive encounters that sometimes become violent enough to kill one of the combatants. The swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus) is found in swampy areas along the Gulf Coast and northward into the pineywoods. Unlike other rabbits, the swamp rabbit regularly takes to the water to move about and avoid predators. In Georgia in 1979, there was a well-publicized incident involving a swamp rabbit and then-President Jimmy Carter, in which a swamp rabbit that was being chased by hounds jumped in the water and swam up to President Carter’s fishing boat. Its throat and tail are white, and it has cinnamon-colored circles around its eyes. The fur is short and ears are of medium size. The fur of swamp rabbits is rusty-brown with black hairs, giving the animals a grizzled appearance. They make nests of grasses and twigs in a depression on the ground under a brush pile or log. A swamp rabbit has a long black flat and naked tail and a cotton tail has a little round fluffy tail. Swamp rabbits are a large variety of cottontail rabbit and they have specific habitat needs. If you've ever ran deer with dogs running a swamp rabbit is a lot like running a doe deer, they will take your dogs in big circles often times out of or close to out of hearing before circling back. It is locally abundant in some regions, but in states such as Oklahoma and Missouri, its range is rapidly diminishing due to degradation and loss of wetland habitat. Young are born with well-developed fur but their eyes are closed and they are immobile. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris) is a small cottontail rabbit found in marshes and swamps of coastal regions of the Eastern and Southern United States. The Swamp rabbit is the largest member of the cottontail rabbit species. Although it is larger in overall size than other cottontails, it has smaller and rounder ears and coarser fur with a more yellow cast. They’ve been known to hide underwater with just their noses exposed. This website uses 'cookies' to give you the best, most relevant experience. Swamp rabbits are well named—they prefer to live in swampy lowlands, floodplains, cypress swamps, and along edges of rivers and creeks. The name “swamp” should be a dead give away. Abbreviation key >> Internet citations >> Glossary >> Lepus americanus [Snowshoe Hare] × Oryctolagus cuniculus [European Rabbit] CHR. It occurs in western Tennessee and some parts of middle Tennessee. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 53 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive. Swamp rabbit home range estimates vary in size, with estimates ranging from <1 ha to 20.2 ha, depending on the location and method used to estimate the home range. The fur is brown on top and white underneath. National Science Foundation The closely related species Sylvilagus floridanus and Sylvilagus aquaticus have been studied more intensely. Tail length averages 2 inches. Swamp rabbits are adept swimmers. The Swamp Rabbit is the largest North American cottontail. Most females will have two to three litters per year. [6] Even though their swimming abilities lack the speed to escape a pack The swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus), or swamp hare,[4] is a large cottontail rabbit found in the swamps and wetlands of the southern United States. The underside of the tail is white and is very bright when the rabbit runs, which is where the name cottontail is derived. There are 8 species of cottontail rabbits in North America that live North of Mexico: the brush rabbit, swamp rabbit, marsh rabbit, Eastern cottontail, New England cottontail, Appalachian cottontail, mountain cottontail, and desert cottontail. [8], Swamp rabbits are herbivorous; they eat a variety of foraged plants, including grasses, sedges, shrubs, tree bark seedlings, and twigs. The tops of the hind feet are reddish brown. Its thick fur is dense enough to waterproof its skin, and is usually a mix of dark brown, rusty brown, and black. Cottontail rabbits are among the 20 lagomorph species in the genus Sylvilagus, found in the Americas. Known as the largest member of the cottontails, they have brown body fur, a brown tail and weighs three to six pounds. He prefers living where he can keep his feet wet. The swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus) is the largest of the rabbits that occur in the southeastern United States. The refuge is one of the few places in Missouri where the swamp rabbit, a larger relative of the eastern cottontail rabbit, is known to occur. surrounded by brush or plant debris with only their nose visible. The gestation period lasts 35 to 40 days. Although it is larger in overall size than other cottontails, it has smaller and rounder ears and coarser fur with a more yellow cast. Females give birth to altricial young. The rabbit’s neck is a brownish rust color and its ears are small and rounded with a black spot between. They spend the day under cover and emerge at dusk to forage. [8] The nests in which the young are born consist of a slight depression in the earth that is filled with grasses mixed with rabbit hair. An adult swamp rabbit is 18 to 22 inches in length. They do so to avoid predators, and they swim to travel. Anywhere, any time. As a verb rabbit is President and CEO Collin O’Mara reveals in a TEDx Talk why it is essential to connect our children and future generations with wildlife and the outdoors—and how doing so is good for our health, economy, and environment. Predators of swamp rabbits include the American alligator, raptors, bobcats, gray foxes, coyotes, snakes, dogs, and humans. The weight of a female Swamp rabbit is 57.94 - 93.91 oz (1646 - 1668 grams) and males weigh up to 65.64 - 90.08 oz (1861 - 2554 g). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, The Mammals of Texas, by William B. Davis and David J. Schmidly. [5], The swamp rabbit is found in much of the south-central United States and along the Gulf coast. The mountain cottontail is less than half that size, at around 2.5 pounds. of hunting dogs, swamp rabbits elude pursuers by lying still in the water It is a strong swimmer and found only near regions of water. [6] The head and back are typically dark or rusty brown or black, while the throat, ventral surface, and tail are white, and there is a cinnamon-colored ring around the eye. DISTRIBUTION: [6] Swamp rabbits spend much of their time in depressions which they dig in tall grass or leaves, providing cover while they wait until the nighttime to forage. This differs from the bluish gray tail of the marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris). Ditch the disposables and make the switch to sustainable products. Alike yet different, is a good way to describe the eastern cottontail, the swamp rabbit, and the California jackrabbit. [5] A study has found that the preferred foods of S. aquaticus are savannah panicgrass (Phanopyrum gymnocarpon), false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), dewberry (Rubus trivialis) and greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox). [6], Like other lagomorphs, they have a double digestion. One of the other factors to which cottontail hunters must get accustomed to when hunting swamp rabbits is the terrain. Their eyes have opened by day 3 and the young have begun walking. An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants. [5], Breeding season varies widely across the range of S. aquaticus, usually occurring anywhere between February and August, but can occur year-round in Texas. The latter usually weighs 2 to 3 pounds, but the swamper tips the scales at 4 to 11. “Winter Snow Cover Increases Swamp Rabbit (Sylvilagus Aquaticus) Mortality at the Northern Extent of Their Range.” Mammalian Biology, vol. He shooed it away by splashing water with a paddle. In 4 seconds, you will be redirected to nwfactionfund.org, the site of the National Wildlife Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) organization. The largest of the cottontails is the swamp rabbit, which weighs up to 6 pounds. Swamp Rabbit Picture of Swamp Rabbit . The breeding season typically falls between February and August. The fur of their head and back is generally a mixture of rusty brown, dark brown, and black. [6] Swamp rabbits have several adaptations to avoid predators: cryptic coloration, "freezing", and rapid, irregular jumping patterns. Search, discover, and learn about wildlife. is that cottontail is a rabbit of any of various species in genus (taxlink) while rabbit is a mammal of the family leporidae , with long ears, long hind legs and a short, fluffy tail. Snow cover has shown to increase swamp rabbit mortality by almost two times in the northern extent of their range. Females can have 1 to 3 litters a year with each litter consisting of 4 to 6 young. The swamp rabbit is the largest member of its genus: the cottontail family. [5] The species is hunted for fur, meat, and sport, and is the second-most commonly hunted rabbit in the United States. 93, 2018, pp. When a predator gets close, these rabbits are likely to jump in the water and swim away, or dive under roots or overhangs to escape. Here come another cottontail rabbit and this time its marsh rabbit. Most Sylvilagus species have stub tails with white undersides that show when they retreat, giving them their characteristic name. Swamp rabbits are found in the Gulf Coast and south-central region of the United States. [6], There is concern that swamp rabbits are increasingly becoming exposed to predation, especially during snowy/wintry seasons. Although it is larger in overall size than other cottontails, it has smaller and rounder ears and coarser fur with a more yellow cast. Description : The swamp rabbit is similar to the eastern cottontail but has a generally larger size, proportionately shorter and rounder ears, coarser body fur with a yellowish cast (particularly to the rump), and more black mottling. These are eaten by the animal (coprophagy), and after further digestion the remains form drier, dark brown or black hard pellets, which are not eaten. [6], S. aquaticus are synchronous breeders. 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