eastern cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

Summary 6

The eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae. It is one of the most common rabbit species in North America.

Description 7

Eastern Cottontails share habitats with seven other cottontails and six species of hares. They have been transplanted to areas outside their historically widespread range, which included swamps, prairies, woodlands, and forests. They have two ways of escaping danger: a zig-zag dash or a slink, in which they creep along, low to the ground, with their ears back. Eastern Cottontails are among the most prolific lagomorphs. Females can have seven litters a year, producing as many as 35 young. Litters, usually of 3 6, are born in a fur-lined nest of dried grasses and leaves.

Links:
Mammal Species of the World
Click here for The American Society of Mammalogists species account

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) leppyone, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/30609440@N00/280224847
  2. (c) Flickr, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7221/7384213162_1fa3671234_b.jpg
  3. (c) Matt Reinbold, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3599/3638785011_b3c4d0f9c1.jpg
  4. (c) 2001 California Academy of Sciences, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=32878&one=T
  5. (c) 2001 California Academy of Sciences, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=32879&one=T
  6. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvilagus_floridanus
  7. (c) Smithsonian Institution, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/6625710

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