Marsh rabbit
Marsh rabbit ( Sylvilagus palustris)
The march rabbit ( Sylvilagus palustris ) is a mammal in the genus of cottontail rabbit among lagomorphs. It lives in swamps in the eastern United States from Virginia to Florida, where a subspecies occurs in the Florida Keys.
Features
The march rabbit is a relatively large species of cottontail rabbits. Chapman & Willner 1983 provide for the type of an average head -body length of 43.6 centimeters, where they have measured only five copies. The tail length is 3.3 inches, the length of the hind feet 9.1 inches and the length of the ears (dried) 5.2 centimeters.
The rough coat is dark brown, the feet are reddish brown on the upper side and lower side slightly darker. The tail is short and inconspicuous, its underside is white.
Dissemination
The distribution area of the marsh rabbit includes the wetlands on the east coast of the United States from Virginia to Florida to the Florida Keys.
Way of life
As habitats colonized the marsh rabbit coastal wetlands, which are often dominated by brackish water. This in the past it was often also be found in freshwater marshes, but these are now largely drained. Within their habitat, the marsh rabbits usually in cattails ( Typha ) are bound and the water is the limiting factor distribution dar.
The species is nocturnal and lives as a loner. During the day the rabbit sits most of the time motionless in a Sasse, it leaves the evening. The animals spend most of their time in the water and are excellent swimmers in the country they move away rather than going hopping. The mating and breeding season spans the entire year and usually the females have six litters per year. A female gives birth per year, about 15 to 20 offspring to the world.
System
The march rabbit is assigned as an independent species the cottontail rabbits ( genus Sylvilagus ). Scientifically, it was first described in 1837 as Lepus palustris by the American Nature scholar and priest John Bachman.
Within the species are with Sylvilagus palustris palustris and the nominate P. p. paludicola and p occurring only in the Florida Keys p. hefneri three subspecies described.
Threats and conservation
The march rabbit is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN ) due to the population size and the large distribution area as not at risk ( least concern ). One exception is the occurring in the Florida Keys subspecies S. p. hefneri represents, which is classified by the IUCN as threatened with extinction ( critically endangered ).