What Is The Only Animal That Is Truly At Home In The Marsh

Species of mammal

Marsh rabbit[i]
Conservation status
To the lowest degree Business concern (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Grade:	Mammalia
Order:	Lagomorpha
Family:	Leporidae
Genus:	Sylvilagus
Species:	S. palustris
Binomial name
Sylvilagus palustris (Bachman, 1837)
Subspecies
S. p. palustris S. p. paludicola S. p. hefneri
Marsh rabbit range

The marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris) is a small cottontail rabbit establish in marshes and swamps of coastal regions of the Eastern and Southern United States. It is a strong swimmer and found only well-nigh regions of water. Information technology is similar in advent to the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) simply is characterized by smaller ears, legs, and tail.^[iii]

Terminology [edit]

Marsh rabbit
at Smyrna Dunes Park, Florida

The scientific name Sylvilagus palustris derives from a combination of the Latin words silva ("forest") and lagos ("hare"), plus palustris ("of the marsh").^[4] The marsh rabbit has ordinarily been associated with the grouping of swamp rabbits; notwithstanding, this proper name is not a synonym and should non be confused with the larger swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus) of Alabama through Texas.^[5] Marsh rabbits have also oft been referred to as marsh hares.

Phylogeny [edit]

Subgenus Tapeti in the genus Sylvilagus, marsh rabbits (S. palustris), and swamp rabbits (Due south. aquaticus), share a chromosomal karyotype derived from a mutual ancestor and accept a diploid number of 2n=38.^[i] Molecular data assay from sequencing the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene confirms that S. palustris and Southward. aquaticus are sister taxa under their subgenus.^[6] Since this factor evolves very slowly in most organisms, it is very useful in determining genetic origins of closely related species.

Size [edit]

Marsh rabbits are typically smaller than eastern cottontail rabbits. Adults from the Florida peninsula weigh approximately 2.2–2.six pounds (one.00–1.xviii kg) with a total length upward of 17 inches (43 cm). Adults from the mainland regions typically abound larger, weighing up to 3.five pounds (1.vi kg) and reaching more than than 17.5 inches (44 cm) in length.^{[5] [7]} The hind feet of the average mainland marsh rabbit is also larger, at 3.vi inches (9.ane cm) compared with 3.5 inches (eight.9 cm) for the typical specimen of the Florida peninsula.^[5]

Subspecies [edit]

Three subspecies of Sylvilagus palustris accept been identified:

• Carolina marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris palustris) – marsh rabbit of mainland regions
• Florida marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris paludicola) – smaller rabbit confined to the peninsular regions of Florida.^[five]
• Lower Keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) – classified as an endangered species.^{[seven] [eight]}

Appearance [edit]

Marsh rabbits display a blackish brown or dark ruby-red dorsal surface.^[9] The belly is a dirty brownish gray in most just can also have a dull white appearance in mainland rabbits.^{[5] [10]} The leading edges of the ears display small black tufts with ochre on the inside.^{[7] [x]} rough hair on the dorsal side can be fringed with black hairs. The black portions of the upper parts often change to a deadening grayish vitrify in leap and summer months, returning to a red or ochre color in autumn, followed past darker black in the winter. Rabbits of peninsular Florida typically display darker and redder colors with a cinnamon-rufous nape, anxiety, and legs. Juveniles display much darker and duller colors than adults.^[10]

One feature that distinguishes marsh rabbits from swamp rabbits and cottontails is that the underside of the tail is about never white but more brown gray.^[ten] Another curious feature observed in specimens from southern Florida is melanism. These individuals exhibit completely black phenotypic coloration that does not change seasonally.^[7]

Marsh rabbits accept a number of features that distinguish them from cottontails and swamp rabbits. The curt ears and legs are much smaller than that of a swamp rabbit. The tail is besides much reduced from the bushy tail seen in cottontails.^[7]

Range [edit]

Marsh rabbit in cattail habitat
Sylvilagus palustris

The mainland marsh rabbit (S. p. palustris) ranges from the Dismal Swamp, Virginia, forth the eastern coast to northern sections of Florida and through the Gulf Coast into Mobile Bay, Alabama.^[5] It occupies coastal lowland areas, swamps, and rivers and is rarely found more than 40 miles from the coast.^[1] The Florida marsh rabbit (Southward. p. paludicola), occupies the peninsular region of Florida, from due south of the Florida Panhandle to the upper Keys. There is a region due north of Miami forth the east coast where this subspecies is not found. The endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbit (S. p. hefneri), is only found in the southern Florida Keys.^[8]

Habitat [edit]

The marsh rabbit commonly inhabits brackish and freshwater marshes, mainly of cattails and cypress.^[xi] In southern Florida, they commonly occupy sandy islands and mangrove swamps.^[7] They are strictly limited to regions with set access to water, unlike most rabbits.^[8] Often, they volition enter tidal marshes, but remain near high ground for protection. Normal hiding spots include dense thickets of magnolia, Blackgum (Nyssa Sylvatica), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), briers, and cattails.^[12]

Reproduction [edit]

Breeding in marsh rabbits occurs year-round. Typical breed sizes are 2 to four young with a gestation menses of 30 to 37 days.^[vii] Adult females produce upwards to 6 litters per year with an average annual production of 15 to 20 young.^[8] Nests are congenital from rushes, grasses, and leaves. The well-covered nest is lined with hair from the adult rabbits. They are often found in dumbo thickets or swampy places completely surrounded by water for protection.^[13]

Diet [edit]

Marsh rabbits are strictly herbivorous. Typically, they feed on leaves and bulbs of marsh plants including cattails, brushes, and grasses.^[11] They tin also feed on other aquatic or marsh plants such every bit centella, greenbrier vine, marsh pennywort, h2o hyacinth, wild potato, and amaryllis.^[12]

Marsh rabbits, like all rabbits, reingest their nutrient, a practice known every bit coprophagy.^[7] Rabbits excrete both hard and soft fecal pellets. These soft pellets, known as cecal pellets, are quickly eaten to be redigested and remove further nutrients. Since rabbits lack a crop displayed in ruminants such every bit cows and sheep, this process is an alternative method for extracting more nutrients from partially digested plant material.

Behavior [edit]

Marsh rabbits are most agile nocturnally; they spend virtually of the daylight hours resting in hidden areas.^[8] Frequent hiding spots include dense thickets, hollow logs, and stands of cattails and grasses. They have also been known to have reward of the abandoned burrows of other animals.^[xiv] Marsh rabbits oftentimes brand runway trails in dense vegetation along marsh edges. These trails tin be identified easily as the rabbits marking active runways with fecal pellets.^[7]

1 very distinguishing addiction of marsh rabbits is that they walk on all fours, placing each pes downward alternately like a true cat. Although they tin can hop like all rabbits, they are more than agile in dumbo vegetation with this walking trend.^{[7] [8]} This smaller gait has been measured at iii.v-six.v in (8.ix-16.five cm) between steps.^[14] The major characteristic of the footprint design non seen in other rabbits is widely spread toes.^[xiii]

Marsh rabbits are more aquatic than swamp rabbits as they are non known to inhabit forests.^[13] They take to water readily and are fantabulous swimmers. To aid in swimming, the hind legs have less fur and longer nails than typical cottontails.^[7] When not concealed in dense thickets, the rabbits will stay submerged in dirty water with merely their eyes and noses exposed and ears laid dorsum apartment.^[thirteen] When they have been spotted, they will readily take to water and swim quickly to a new hiding spot or floating vegetation.^[14] Because marsh rabbits possess very short hind legs, they typically rely on doubling and turning when running to evade predators. This often leads to easy capture by dogs.^[10] When flushed out of hiding spots, they may squeal equally they escape.^[7]

Birds of prey such every bit the not bad horned owl and northern harrier or marsh hawk are the major predators of the rabbits. Other predators include alligators, snakes, bobcats, foxes, and coyotes.^{[vii] [12]}

Human being interaction [edit]

In regions of the South, marsh rabbits are regularly hunted along with swamp rabbits by burning large patches of stale grass to flush them out.^[7] In some states, the marsh rabbit is considered a game creature and is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources. For example, South Carolina establishes a hunting season from Nov 27 to March 2 with a 5 rabbit per mean solar day bag limit.^[15] In Virginia, marsh rabbit hunting is managed by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.^[sixteen]

With their diet of mainly aquatic plants, marsh rabbits are considered minor agricultural pests to most economically viable crops. In southern Florida, yet, they are considered major pests of sugar cane fields.^{[7] [viii]}

Cultural references [edit]

In Georgia, the marsh rabbit is known equally pontoon. In Alabama, swamp rabbits (or cane-cutters) are often mistaken for marsh rabbits.^{[five] [xiii]} In many regions of the Eastern U.s. where it is served in restaurants, "marsh rabbit" is actually a euphemism for muskrat meat. True marsh rabbit meat is often prepared every bit a stew, or information technology may be marinated, covered in flour, and fried.^[17]

References [edit]

1. ^ ^{a b c} Hoffmann, R. Southward.; Smith, A. T.; Wilson, D. East.; Reeder, D. G. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 211. ISBN0-8018-8221-4.
2. ^ McCleery, R.; Lanier, H.C. (2019). "Sylvilagus palustris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41303A45192995. doi:10.2305/IUCN.United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland.2019-i.RLTS.T41303A45192995.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
3. ^ Gingerich, Jerry Lee (1994). Florida's Fabled Mammals. Tampa, FL: World Publications. p. 56. ISBN0-911977-xiii-9.
4. ^ Archibald William Smith A Gardener's Handbook of Plant Names: Their Meanings and Origins, p. 258, at Google Books
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Elmer, A. H. (2005). Field Book of North American Mammals. Kessinger Publishing ( reprint of G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1928 ). pp. 504–506. OCLC 936637.
6. ^ Halanych, K. Thou.; Robinson, T. J. (June 1997). "Phylogenetic Relationships of Cottontails (Sylvilagus, Lagomorpha): Congruence of 12S rDNA and Cytogenetic Data". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 7 (3): 294–302. doi:10.1006/mpev.1996.0403. PMID 9187089.
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f one thousand h i j one thousand 50 m n o} Whitaker, J. O.; Hamilton, W. J. (1998). Mammals of the Eastern United States (3rd ed.). Cornell University Press. pp. 178–187. ISBN0-8014-3475-0.
8. ^ ^{a b c d e f chiliad} IUCN; SSC Lagomorph Specialist Group; Chapman, J. A.; Flux, J. Due east. C., eds. (1990). Rabbits, Hares and Pikas: Condition Survey and Conservation Action Programme (PDF). IUCN. p. 106. ISBN2-8317-0019-i.
9. ^ Feldhamer, G. A.; Thompson, B. C.; Chapman, J. A. (2003). Wild Mammals of North America: Biological science, Management, and Conservation (2d ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 101–125. ISBN0-8018-7416-5.
10. ^ ^{a b c d e} Nelson, Eastward. Due west. (1909). "The Rabbits of North America" (pdf). N American Fauna. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Biological Survey. 29: 265–270. doi:x.3996/nafa.29.0001.
11. ^ ^{a b} Bowers, N.; Bowers, R.; Kaufman, K. (2007). Kaufman Field Guide to Mammals of North America (12th ed.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 26. ISBN0-618-95188-1.
12. ^ ^{a b c} Fergus, C.; Hansen, A. (2003). Wild animals of Virginia and Maryland and Washington, D.C. Stackpole Books. p. 37. ISBN0-8117-2821-8.
13. ^ ^{a b c d east} Nelson, Edward W. (May 1918). "Smaller Mammals of Due north America". The National Geographic Magazine. Washington, D.C. 33 (5): 391–392. Retrieved 2018-06-02 .
14. ^ ^{a b c} Murie, O. J.; Elbroch, M. (2005). Peterson Field Guide to Animal Tracks (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin. pp. forty–42. ISBN0-618-51742-i.
15. ^ "Marsh Rabbit". ACE Bowl Species Gallery. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Oct 11, 2006. Archived from the original on February xiv, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-04 .
16. ^ "Species Information: Marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris palustris)". Virginia Section of Game and Inland Fisheries. Archived from the original on 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2012-03-04 .
17. ^ Cassidy, F. G.; Hall, J. H. (1996). Dictionary of American Regional English: I-O. Harvard University Press. p. 525.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsh_rabbit

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