Marsh Rabbit
Sylvilagus palustris
S. palustris is a medium-sized cottontail with dark brown or blackish fur and a grayish underside. The ears are short and rounded, and the tail is dark brown or blackish…
How to identify
S. palustris is a medium-sized cottontail with dark brown or blackish fur and a grayish underside. The ears are short and rounded, and the tail is dark brown or blackish on top and grayish underneath. They are adapted to semi-aquatic environments.
Range
S. palustris is found in coastal areas of the southeastern United States, from North Carolina southward to Florida and westward to Alabama.
Habitat
S. palustris inhabits freshwater and brackish marshes, swamps, and other wetland areas. They are often found near coastal areas and are good swimmers.
Similar species
S. floridanus (Eastern Cottontail) can overlap in range, but S. palustris prefers wetter habitats and has shorter, rounder ears.
Name and etymology
Genus
Sylvilagus
Latin for forest (silva) and Greek for hare (lagos_
Origin
Sources
- Palmer, Index Generum Mammalium (1904) ↗
Palmer, T. S. 1904. Index Generum Mammalium: a list of the genera and families of mammals. North American Fauna 23. Government Printing Office, Washington. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.39809
Species epithet
palustris
Latin for of the marsh
Origin
Sources
- Wikipedia: Sylvilagus palustris ↗
“Sylvilagus palustris.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsh_rabbit
Explore more names in the etymology index.
At a glance
Range
S. palustris is found in coastal areas of the southeastern United States, from North Carolina southward to Florida and westwa…
Habitat
S. palustris inhabits freshwater and brackish marshes, swamps, and other wetland areas. They are often found near coastal are…
Guide
Mammals of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap