Swamp rabbit

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Swamp rabbit[1]
Temporal range: Pleistocene–recent[2]

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[3]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Genus: Sylvilagus
Species:
S. aquaticus
Binomial name
Sylvilagus aquaticus
(Bachman, 1837)
Swamp rabbit range

The swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus), also called the cane-cutter, is a large cottontail rabbit found in the swamps and wetlands of the southern United States. The species has a strong preference for wet areas, and it will take to the water and swim.[4]

Range and habitat

The swamp rabbit is found in much of the south-central United States and along the

extirpated from Kansas.[6]

Swamp rabbits mainly live close to

tributaries.[5] 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.[5]

There is concern that swamp rabbits are increasingly becoming exposed to predation, especially during snowy/wintry seasons. Snow cover has shown to increase swamp rabbit mortality by almost two times in the northern extent of their range. This is due mostly to the fact that snow cover constrains hiding ability and availability of food resources.[7]

Physical description

S. aquaticus is the largest of the cottontail species, although its ears are smaller than those of other cottontails.[5] Males are slightly larger than females.[5] 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.[5] Their sides, rump, tail and feet are much more brownish, along with a pinkish-cinnamon eye-ring, as opposed to the whitish eye-ring in eastern cottontails.[4]

S. aquaticus males vary in weight from approximately 4 lb (1.8 kg) to 5.6 lb (2.5 kg), with an average of about 5 lb (2.3 kg); females vary from approx. 3.6 lb (1.6 kg) to 5.9 lb (2.7 kg), averaging about 4.8 lb (2.2 kg). S. aquaticus ranges in length from approx. 17.8 inches (45 cm) to 21.7 in (55 cm), with an average length of about 19.7 in (50 cm).[5]

Predation

Known predators of Sylvilagus aquaticus are

cryptic coloration, "freezing", and rapid, irregular jumping patterns.[5]

Ontogeny and reproduction

S. aquaticus are

altricial young. Young are born with well-developed fur but their eyes are closed and they are immobile. Their eyes have opened by day three and the young have begun walking. They are weaned and leave the nest after about 15 days. Young are sexually mature at seven months and reach adult weight at 10 months.[9] 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.[4]

A very young swamp rabbit being held in a person's hand
Juvenile swamp rabbit

Breeding season varies widely across the range of S. aquaticus, usually occurring anywhere between February and August, but can occur year-round in Texas.

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.[9]

Diet

Swamp rabbits are

tree bark seedlings, and twigs.[5] They feed mainly at night but rain showers will often cause them to feed during daytime as well.[4] A study has found that the preferred foods of S. aquaticus are savannah panicgrass (Panicum gymnocarpum), false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), dewberry (Rubus trivialis) and greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox).[5]

Like all lagomorphs, the swamp rabbit creates, expels & eats cecotropes (cecotrophy) to get more nutrition from its food.[5]

Species competition

Rival males will often engage in aggressive encounters that sometimes become violent enough to kill one of the combatants. When fighting, males will stand on their hind legs and use their teeth and claws to inflict wounds on their opponent. They will also jump from the ground and strike with the sharp claws of the hind feet.[4]

See also

References

  1. OCLC 62265494
    .
  2. ^ "Sylvilagus aquaticus (swamp rabbit)". PBDB. Archived from the original on 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
  3. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T41296A45190578.en
    . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Reed, Don (September 2008). "Wildlife Species Profile Swamp Rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus)" (PDF). Louisiana Wildlife News. No. 5. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Sylvilagus aquaticus (swamp rabbit) Archived 2013-05-27 at the Wayback Machine, Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
  6. ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  7. ^ Hillard, Elizabeth M., et al. “Winter Snow Cover Increases Swamp Rabbit (Sylvilagus Aquaticus) Mortality at the Northern Extent of Their Range.” Mammalian Biology, vol. 93, 2018, pp. 93–96., doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2018.09.001.
  8. ^ "This swamp rabbit can swim: Remarkable Rabbits | CBC.ca". Archived from the original on 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  9. ^ a b Courtney, Emily M. (5 September 2008). "Swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus)" (PDF). Mammals in Mississippi. No. 3. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2014.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swamp_rabbit&oldid=1217462809"