A small cottontail relative adapted for wet habitats — they're actually good swimmers, unusual for rabbits. Sometimes seen wading through shallow water.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The marsh rabbit is a small cottontail rabbit found in marshes and swamps of coastal regions of the Eastern and Southern United States, from Virginia to the lower Florida Keys. Being a small brown rabbit, it is similar in appearance to the widespread eastern cottontail, but is characterized by its smaller ears, legs, and tail, as well as its grayish-brown underparts.
Source: Wikipedia — Marsh rabbit Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium rabbit with brown back, white belly; short tail; relatively short ears.
Similar species. Swamp Rabbit (larger; different range edge). Eastern Cottontail (different habitat).
Voice. Generally silent.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Aquatic plants, grasses, sedges.
Behavior. Specialized swimming rabbit of southeastern wetlands. Can swim while almost entirely submerged.
§ Range
Southeastern US Coastal Plain
§ Habitat
Marshes, swamps, wet meadows
§ Threats
Wetland drainage, vehicle strikes, sea-level rise (especially for Lower Keys subspecies).
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the marsh rabbit is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support coastal wetland protection. Drive slowly in southeastern wetland country. Donate to Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit recovery.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Marsh rabbit
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Sylvilagus palustris
- IUCN Red List · taxon 41297
- iNaturalist · taxon 43160
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Sylvilagus palustris
§ Sources cited
- American Society of Mammalogists
- IUCN Red List 2016
