Adult females produce up to 6 litters per year with an average annual production of 15 to 20 young. Typical brood sizes are 2 to 4 young with a gestation period of 30 to 37 days. Reproduction īreeding in marsh rabbits occurs year-round. Normal hiding spots include dense thickets of magnolia, blackgum ( Nyssa sylvatica), sweetgum ( Liquidambar styraciflua), briers, and cattails. Often, they will enter tidal marshes, but remain near high ground for protection. They are strictly limited to regions with ready access to water, unlike most rabbits. In southern Florida, they commonly occupy sandy islands and mangrove swamps. The marsh rabbit commonly inhabits brackish and freshwater marshes, mainly of cattails and cypress. hefneri), is only found in the southern Florida Keys. The endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbit (S. There is a region north of Miami along the east coast where this subspecies is not found. paludicola), occupies the peninsular region of Florida, from south of the Florida Panhandle to the upper Keys. It occupies coastal lowland areas, swamps, and rivers and is rarely found more than forty miles from the coast. palustris) ranges from the Dismal Swamp, Virginia, along the eastern coast to northern sections of Florida and through the Gulf Coast into Mobile Bay, Alabama. The tail is also much reduced from the bushy tail seen in cottontails. The short ears and legs are much smaller than that of a swamp rabbit. Marsh rabbits have a number of features that distinguish them from cottontails and swamp rabbits. These individuals exhibit completely black phenotypic coloration that does not change seasonally. Another curious feature observed in specimens from southern Florida is melanism. One feature that distinguishes marsh rabbits from swamp rabbits and cottontails is that the underside of the tail is almost never white but more brownish gray. Juveniles display much darker and duller colors than adults. Rabbits of peninsular Florida typically display darker and redder colors with a cinnamon-rufous nape, feet, and legs. The black portions of the upper parts often change to a dull grayish buff in spring and summer months, returning to a reddish or ochre color in fall, followed by darker black in the winter. rough hair on the dorsal side can be fringed with black hairs. The leading edges of the ears display small black tufts with ochre on the inside. The belly is a dingy brownish gray in most but can also have a dull white appearance in mainland rabbits. Marsh rabbits display a blackish brown or dark reddish dorsal surface. Lower Keys marsh rabbit ( Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) – classified as an endangered species.Florida marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris paludicola) – smaller rabbit confined to the peninsular regions of Florida.Carolina marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris palustris) – nominate subspecies marsh rabbit of mainland regions.Three subspecies of Sylvilagus palustris have been identified: The hind feet of the average mainland marsh rabbit is also larger, at 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) compared with 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) for the typical specimen of the Florida peninsula. Adults from the mainland regions typically grow larger, weighing up to 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg) and reaching more than 17.5 inches (44 cm) in length. Adults from the Florida peninsula weigh approximately 2.2–2.6 pounds (1.00–1.18 kg) with a total length upwards of 17 inches (43 cm). Marsh rabbits are typically smaller than eastern cottontail rabbits. Since this gene evolves very slowly in most organisms, it is very useful in determining genetic origins of closely related species. aquaticus are sister taxa under their subgenus. Molecular data analysis from sequencing the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene confirms that S. In the subgenus Tapeti in the genus Sylvilagus, marsh rabbits and swamp rabbits share a chromosomal karyotype derived from a common ancestor and have a diploid number of 2n=38. Marsh rabbits have also often been referred to as marsh hares. The marsh rabbit has commonly been associated with the group of swamp rabbits however, this name is not a synonym and should not be confused with the larger swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus) of Alabama through Texas. The scientific name Sylvilagus palustris derives from a combination of the Latin words silva ("forest") and lagos ("hare"), plus palustris ("of the marsh"). Terminology At Smyrma Dunes Park, Florida It is similar in appearance to the eastern cottontail ( Sylvilagus floridanus) but is characterized by smaller ears, legs, and tail. It is a strong swimmer and found only near regions of water. The marsh rabbit ( Sylvilagus palustris) is a small cottontail rabbit found in marshes and swamps of coastal regions of the Eastern and Southern United States.
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