Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris)

Marsh Rabbit
Photograph copyright: Chad Anderson - all rights reserved. Used with permission. (view image details)

MARSH RABBIT FACTS

Description
Marsh rabbits are semi-aquatic and good swimmers, and they sometimes hide in water to avoid danger. The fur is dark brown fur above with cinnamon color on back of the neck; the underside is white. The ears are broad and short. The tail is gray with dark underside. Female March Rabbits are larger than males.

Size
Length: 35cm - 45c,. Weight: 1kg - 2kg.

Environment
swamps, lake margins, coastal waterways

Food
herbaceous plants, bark, leaves

Breeding
The female builds a nest lined with hair. A litter of 3 - 8 (usually 5) is born after gestation period of about 28 days. The young are naked and blind at birth and are weaned after about 16 days.

Range
south east United States from Virginia to southwest Florida.

Notes
Marsh Rabbits are hunted for sport and food

Classification

Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Lagomorpha
Family:	Leporidae
Genus:	Sylvilagus
Species:	palustris
Common Name:	Marsh Rabbit

Relatives in same Genus
  Swamp Rabbit (S. aquaticus)
  Desert Cottontail (S. audubonii)
  Brush Rabbit (S. bachmani)
  Eastern Cottontail (S. floridanus)
  Mountain Cottontail (S. nuttallii)
  Appalachian Cottontail (S. obscurus)
  New England Cottontail (S. transitionalis)

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