Swamp rabbit

Last updated

Swamp rabbit [1]
Temporal range: Pleistocene–recent [2]
Sylvilagus aquaticus 365336366.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Genus: Sylvilagus
Species:
S. aquaticus
Binomial name
Sylvilagus aquaticus
(Bachman, 1837)
Swamp Rabbit area.png
Swamp rabbit range

The swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus), also called the cane-cutter, is a large cottontail rabbit found in the swamps and wetlands of the southern United States. The species has a strong preference for wet areas, and it will take to the water and swim. [4]

Contents

Taxonomy and etymology

The swamp rabbit was first described in 1874 by John Bachman as Lepus aquaticus, having a type locality of "western Alabama". [5]

Two subspecies are recognized: Sylvilagus aquaticus aquaticus, the nominate subspecies that occupies most of the swamp rabbit's recognized distribution, and Sylvilagus aquaticus littoralis, which is found only in a narrow band of marshes in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas along the Gulf of Mexico coast. [6]

Fossil record

1904 plate of an S. aquaticus skull, published by Daniel Giraud Elliot Sylvilagus aquaticus (Plate XL) (6969289554) corrections.png
1904 plate of an S. aquaticus skull, published by Daniel Giraud Elliot

Sylvilagus aquaticus fossils have been identified as early as the Pleistocene epoch, according to a 1940 discovery of molar teeth found in a Missouri deposit dating back to that era. [5] Glaciations during the Illinoian stage likely created refugia that led to the emergence of the swamp rabbit as a distinct species. The Last Glacial Period following the Pleistocene created a hybrid zone in western Georgia, which likely led to the separation of the swamp rabbit from the marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris), its closest relative. [6]

Range and habitat

The swamp rabbit is found in much of the south-central United States and along the Gulf coast. [7] It is most abundant in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, but also inhabits South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Georgia. [7] It is possibly extirpated from Kansas. [8]

Swamp rabbits mainly live close to lowland water, often in cypress swamps, marshland, floodplain, and river tributaries. [7] Swamp rabbits spend much of their time in depressions which they dig in tall grass or leaves, providing cover while they wait until the nighttime to forage. [7]

There is concern that swamp rabbits are increasingly becoming exposed to predation, especially during snowy/wintry seasons. Snow cover has shown to increase swamp rabbit mortality by almost two times in the northern extent of their range. This is due mostly to the fact that snow cover constrains hiding ability and availability of food resources. [9]

Physical description

S. aquaticus in Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center Sylvilagus aquaticus 370111366 (cropped).jpg
S. aquaticus in Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center

Sylvilagus aquaticus is the largest of the cottontail species, although its ears are smaller than those of other cottontails. [7] Males are slightly larger than females. [7] The head and back are typically dark or rusty brown or black, while the throat, ventral surface, and tail are white, and there is a cinnamon-colored ring around the eye. [7] Their sides, rump, tail and feet are much more brownish, along with a pinkish-cinnamon eye-ring, as opposed to the whitish eye-ring in eastern cottontails. [4]

Sylvilagus aquaticus males vary in weight from approximately 4 lb (1.8 kg) to 5.6 lb (2.5 kg), with an average of about 5 lb (2.3 kg); females vary from approx. 3.6 lb (1.6 kg) to 5.9 lb (2.7 kg), averaging about 4.8 lb (2.2 kg). S. aquaticus ranges in length from approx. 17.8 inches (45 cm) to 21.7 in (55 cm), with an average length of about 19.7 in (50 cm). [7] Males and females of the species show very little sexual dimorphism in regards to size. [10]

Ecology and behavior

Swamp rabbit grooming itself Sylvilagus aquaticus grooming 1.jpg
Swamp rabbit grooming itself

Swamp rabbits are territorial, in contrast to other cottontail rabbits, though they will tolerate some overlap between the home ranges of individuals. [6] They will mark their territory by "chinning", or marking objects with pheromones produced from glands near the chin. This behavior is also noted in the European rabbit. [5] Rival males may engage in aggressive encounters that sometimes become violent enough to kill one of the combatants. When fighting, males will stand on their hind legs and use their teeth and claws to inflict wounds on their opponent. They will also jump from the ground and strike with the sharp claws of the hind feet. [4] However, compared to nonviolent displays of dominance and submission, fighting is rare. [6]

Swamp rabbits maintain social order through displays of dominance, and communicate directly through vocalizations such as squeaks, chirps, squeals and alert calls. Higher-ranking males will display dominance over lower-ranking males more frequently, and will move within the home ranges of females more frequently, with the alpha male copulating most often in a given season. [6]

Diet

Swamp rabbits are herbivorous; they eat a variety of foraged plants, including grasses, sedges, shrubs, tree bark seedlings, and twigs. [7] They feed mainly at night but rain showers will often cause them to feed during daytime as well. [4] A study has found that the preferred foods of S. aquaticus are savannah panicgrass ( Panicum gymnocarpum), false nettle ( Boehmeria cylindrica ), dewberry ( Rubus trivialis ) and greenbrier ( Smilax bona-nox ). [7]

Like all lagomorphs, the swamp rabbit creates, expels and eats cecotropes to get more nutrition from its food. [7]

Reproduction

Swamp rabbits are synchronous breeders. Females give birth to altricial young. Young are born with well-developed fur but their eyes are closed and they are immobile. Their eyes have opened by day three and the young have begun walking. They are weaned and leave the nest after about 15 days. Young are sexually mature at seven months and reach adult weight at 10 months. [11] The nests in which the young are born consist of a slight depression in the earth that is filled with grasses mixed with rabbit hair. [4] [12] These nests, also used for thermoregulation, are known as forms and are common among the non-burrowing species of rabbit. [13]

Juvenile swamp rabbit Southern swamp rabbit baby.jpg
Juvenile swamp rabbit

Breeding season varies widely across the range of Sylvilagus aquaticus, usually occurring anywhere between February and August, but can occur year-round in Texas. Spermatogenesis has been noted to occur in S. aquaticus in Missouri in October and November. In a Mississippi study, groups of males harvested in December and February had higher percentages of individuals with descended testes than those harvested in any other months. [14] S. aquaticus exhibit induced ovulation and have an hour-long estrus. The gestation period lasts 35 to 40 days. Females can have one to three litters a year with each litter consisting of four to six young. The occurrence of embryo resorption has been seen in S. aquaticus; this loss of in-utero litters is attributed to some type of habitat disturbance such as flooding, which may cause overcrowding to occur. [11]

Predation and parasites

Known predators of Sylvilagus aquaticus are domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), and humans (Homo sapiens). [7] Feral pigs are also a potential predator. [15] Even though their swimming abilities [16] lack the speed to escape a pack of hunting dogs, swamp rabbits elude pursuers by lying still in the water surrounded by brush or plant debris with only their nose visible. [4] The species is hunted for fur, meat, and sport, and is the second-most commonly hunted rabbit in the United States. [7] Swamp rabbits have several adaptations to avoid predators: cryptic coloration, "freezing", and rapid, irregular jumping patterns. [7]

Sylvilagus aquaticus is susceptible to parasitism from various roundworms in the genus Brugia , specifically B. lepori, which is endemic to Louisiana. [17] The roundworms live in the subcutaneous and lymphatic tissue of the rabbit. B. lepori is also known to affect the eastern cottontail, [18] and is suspected as an agent of human Brugia infections in the northeastern United States. [19] S. aquaticus is also affected by other internal parasites, including trematodes and cestodes, as well as the parasitic tick Haemaphysalis leporispalustris. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rabbit</span> Mammals of the family Leporidae

Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae, which is in the order Lagomorpha. They are familiar throughout the world as a small herbivore, a prey animal, a domesticated form of livestock, and a pet, having a widespread effect on ecologies and cultures. The most widespread rabbit genera are Oryctolagus and Sylvilagus. The former, Oryctolagus, includes the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, which is the ancestor of the hundreds of breeds of domestic rabbit and has been introduced on every continent except Antarctica. The latter, Sylvilagus, includes over 13 wild rabbit species, among them the cottontails and tapetis. Wild rabbits not included in Oryctolagus and Sylvilagus include several species of limited distribution, including the pygmy rabbit, volcano rabbit, and Sumatran striped rabbit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leporidae</span> Family of lagomorphs

Leporidae is the family of rabbits and hares, containing over 70 species of extant mammals in all. The Latin word Leporidae means "those that resemble lepus" (hare). Together with the pikas, the Leporidae constitute the mammalian order Lagomorpha. Leporidae differ from pikas in that they have short, furry tails and elongated ears and hind legs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European hare</span> Large species of hare native to Europe and parts of Asia

The European hare, also known as the brown hare, is a species of hare native to Europe and parts of Asia. It is among the largest hare species and is adapted to temperate, open country. Hares are herbivorous and feed mainly on grasses and herbs, supplementing these with twigs, buds, bark and field crops, particularly in winter. Their natural predators include large birds of prey, canids and felids. They rely on high-speed endurance running to escape predation, having long, powerful limbs and large nostrils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desert cottontail</span> Species of mammal

The desert cottontail, also known as Audubon's cottontail, is a New World cottontail rabbit, and a member of the family Leporidae. Unlike the European rabbit, they do not form social burrow systems, but compared with some other leporids, they are extremely tolerant of other individuals in their vicinity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cottontail rabbit</span> Genus of mammals

Cottontail rabbits are in the Sylvilagus genus, which is in the Leporidae family. They are found in the Americas. Most Sylvilagus species have stub tails with white undersides that show when they retreat, giving them their characteristic name. However, this feature is not present in all Sylvilagus, nor is it unique to the genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brush rabbit</span> Species of mammal

The brush rabbit, or western brush rabbit, or Californian brush rabbit, is a species of cottontail rabbit found in western coastal regions of North America, from the Columbia River in Oregon to the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Its range extends as far east as the eastern sides of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern cottontail</span> Species of mammal

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pygmy rabbit</span> Species of mammal

The pygmy rabbit is a rabbit species native to the United States. It is also the only native rabbit species in North America to dig its own burrow. The pygmy rabbit differs significantly from species within either the Lepus (hare) or Sylvilagus (cottontail) genera and is generally considered to be within the monotypic genus Brachylagus. One isolated population, the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, is listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Federal government, though the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as lower risk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common tapeti</span> Species of mammal

The common tapeti, also known as the Brazilian cottontail, forest cottontail, or (formerly) simply tapeti is a species of cottontail rabbit. It is small to medium-sized with a small, dark tail, short hind feet, and short ears. As traditionally defined, its range extends from southern Mexico to northern Argentina, but this includes several distinctive population that have since been split into separate species. Under this narrower definition, the true common tapeti only occurs in the Atlantic Rainforest of coastal northeastern Brazil and it is classified as "Endangered" by the IUCN. The American Society of Mammalogists concurs, but also tentatively classifies several distinct populations that have not yet received proper species names into S. brasiliensis, and thus considers it to range from Venezuela south to Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omilteme cottontail</span> Species of mammal

The Omilteme cottontail is a cottontail rabbit found only in the state of Guerrero, Mexico in the mountain range of Sierra Madre del Sur. Belonging to the family Leporidae, it is one of fourteen species in the genus Sylvilagus, a genus restricted to the New World. The Omilteme cottontail is considered one of the most endangered rabbit species in the world and is only known and been described by very few specimens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volcano rabbit</span> Species of rabbit

The volcano rabbit, also known as teporingo or zacatuche, is a small rabbit that resides on the slopes of volcanoes in Mexico. It is the world's second-smallest rabbit, second only to the pygmy rabbit. It has small rounded ears, short legs, a large forehead, and short, thick fur. It weighs approximately 390–600 g (0.86–1.3 lb) and has a life span of 7 to 9 years. The volcano rabbit lives in groups of 2 to 5 animals in burrows and runways among grass tussocks. The burrows can be as long as 5 m and as deep as 40 cm. There are usually 2 to 3 young per litter, born in the burrows. In semi-captivity, however, they do not make burrows and the young are born in nests made in the grass tussocks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New England cottontail</span> Species of mammal

The New England cottontail, also called the gray rabbit, brush rabbit, wood hare, wood rabbit, or cooney, is a species of cottontail rabbit represented by fragmented populations in areas of New England and the state of New York, specifically from southern Maine to southern New York. This species bears a close resemblance to the eastern cottontail, which has been introduced in much of the New England cottontail home range. The eastern cottontail is now more common in it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican cottontail</span> Species of mammal

The Mexicаn cottontail is a species of cottontail rabbit in the family Leporidae. It is endemic to Mexico where its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical dry forests and pastureland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tres Marias cottontail</span> Species of mammal

The Tres Marias cottontail or Tres Marias rabbit is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It is endemic to the Islas Marías in Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain cottontail</span> Species of mammal

The mountain cottontail or Nuttall's cottontail is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It is found in Canada and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appalachian cottontail</span> Species of mammal

The Appalachian cottontail is a species of cottontail rabbit in the family Leporidae. It is a rare species found in the upland areas of the eastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marsh rabbit</span> Species of mammal

The marsh rabbit is a small cottontail rabbit found in marshes and swamps of coastal regions of the Eastern and Southern United States. It is a strong swimmer and found only near regions of water. It is similar in appearance to the eastern cottontail but is characterized by smaller ears, legs, and tail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robust cottontail</span> Species of mammal

The Davis Mountains cottontail, robust cottontail or Holzner's cottontail is a species of cottontail rabbit native to high-altitude regions of the southwestern United States and western Mexico.

Smith Island cottontail, Smith's Island cottontail or Hitchen's cottontail, was a subspecies of the Eastern cottontail rabbit that lived mainly on two islands on the tip of the Delmarva Peninsula in Virginia. It is generally considered to be extinct.

References

  1. ↑ Hoffman, R.S.; Smith, A.T. (2005). "Order Lagomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 207–208. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  2. ↑ "Sylvilagus aquaticus (swamp rabbit)". PBDB. Archived from the original on 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
  3. ↑ Lanier, H.C.; Nielsen, C. (2019). "Sylvilagus aquaticus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T41296A45190578. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T41296A45190578.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Reed, Don (September 2008). "Wildlife Species Profile Swamp Rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus)" (PDF). Louisiana Wildlife News. No. 5. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Chapman, Joseph A.; Feldhamer, George A. (1981-05-08). "Sylvilagus aquaticus". Mammalian Species (151): 1. doi:10.2307/3504012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Nielsen, Clayton K.; Berkman, Leah K. (2018). "Sylvilagus aquaticus (Bachman, 1837) Swamp Rabbit". In Smith, Andrew T.; Johnston, Charlotte H.; Alves, Paulo C.; Hackländer, Klaus (eds.). Lagomorphs: Pikas, Rabbits, and Hares of the World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 117–119. ISBN   978-1-4214-2341-8. LCCN   2017004268.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Sylvilagus aquaticus (swamp rabbit) Archived 2013-05-27 at the Wayback Machine , Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
  8. ↑ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  9. ↑ Hillard, Elizabeth M.; Edmund, Alison C.; Crawford, Joanne C.; Nielsen, Clayton K.; Schauber, Eric M.; Groninger, John W. (2018). "Winter Snow Cover Increases Swamp Rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus) Mortality at the Northern Extent of Their Range". Mammalian Biology. 93: 93–96. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2018.09.001.
  10. ↑ Heldstab, Sandra A. (December 2021). "Habitat characteristics and life history explain reproductive seasonality in lagomorphs". Mammalian Biology. 101 (6): 739–757. doi: 10.1007/s42991-021-00127-0 . ISSN   1616-5047.
  11. 1 2 Courtney, Emily M. (5 September 2008). "Swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus)" (PDF). Mammals in Mississippi. No. 3. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  12. ↑ Svihla, Ruth Dowell (November 1929). "Habits of Sylvilagus aquaticus littoralis". Journal of Mammalogy. 10 (4): 315–319. doi:10.2307/1374118. JSTOR   1374118.
  13. ↑ Milling, Charlotte R.; Rachlow, Janet L.; Johnson, Timothy R.; Forbey, Jennifer S.; Shipley, Lisa A. (2017-09-01). "Seasonal variation in behavioral thermoregulation and predator avoidance in a small mammal". Behavioral Ecology. 28 (5): 1236–1247. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arx084 . ISSN   1045-2249.
  14. ↑ Bond, Bobby T.; Bowman, Jacob L.; Leopold, Bruce D.; Wes Burger, Jr., L.; David Godwin, K.; Class, Corey M. (2006). "Swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus) demographics, morphometrics, and reproductive characteristics in Mississippi" (PDF). Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences. 51 (2): 123–128. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  15. ↑ Stevens, Thomas K.; Hale, Amanda M.; Williams, Dean A. (February 2023). "Environmental and anthropogenic variables influence the distribution of a habitat specialist ( Sylvilagus aquaticus ) in a large urban forest". Conservation Science and Practice. 5 (2). doi: 10.1111/csp2.12882 . ISSN   2578-4854.
  16. ↑ "This swamp rabbit can swim: Remarkable Rabbits | CBC.ca". Archived from the original on 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  17. ↑ Evans, Christopher C.; Pilotte, Nils; Moorhead, Andrew R. (2024-08-23). "Current Status of the Diagnosis of Brugia spp. Infections". Pathogens. 13 (9): 714. doi: 10.3390/pathogens13090714 . ISSN   2076-0817. PMC   11434688 . PMID   39338906.
  18. ↑ Eberhard, M. L. (August 1984). "Brugia lepori sp. n. (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae) from rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus, S. floridanus) in Louisiana". The Journal of Parasitology. 70 (4): 576–579. doi:10.2307/3281408. ISSN   0022-3395. JSTOR   3281408. PMID   6502360.
  19. ↑ Eberhard, Mark L.; Telford III, Sam R.; Spielman, Andrew (October 1991). "A Brugia Species Infecting Rabbits in the Northeastern United States". The Journal of Parasitology. 77 (5): 796. doi:10.2307/3282722. JSTOR   3282722.
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