# Cottontail Rabbits (*Sylvilagus*) Cottontail rabbits are small, fluffy animals with big ears and a cute cotton-like tail. They love to hop around in fields and gardens, munching on grass and vegetables. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Cottontail Rabbits](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sylvilagus_audubonii_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Holly Cheng, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sylvilagus_audubonii_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Cottontail Rabbit has soft, brownish-gray fur with a distinctive fluffy white tail resembling a cotton ball. Its underside is lighter, with large eyes and long ears that help it stay alert in its environment. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Lagomorpha - **Family:** Leporidae - **Genus:** Sylvilagus ## Interesting facts - Baby cottontails, called kits, are born blind, hairless, and totally helpless! - Cottontail rabbits re-eat a special kind of their own droppings for extra nutrients! - They warn friends of danger by thumping their strong back feet loudly on the ground! - When scared, a cottontail can freeze perfectly still, blending into its surroundings! ## Special abilities - **Speedy Zig-Zag:** Cottontail Rabbits can run in quick zig-zag patterns because of their powerful hind legs, helping them dodge predators. - **Camouflage Cloak:** Cottontail Rabbits have brownish-gray fur that helps them blend perfectly into their grassy and woody habitats. - **Super Hearing:** Cottontail Rabbits have large, swiveling ears that help them detect even faint sounds of approaching danger. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 36-48 cm - **Weight:** 0.8-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-3 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Litter Size:** 3-8 - **Gestation:** 28-30 days ## Diet & Feeding Cottontails munch on plants like grasses, clover, and bark to grow strong. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, clover, leaves, twigs, bark, young plants - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Coyotes are common predators of cottontail rabbits. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Hawks hunt rabbits from above in open areas. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Owls are nocturnal predators that catch rabbits at night. - **Eaten by:** [Bobcat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bobcat) (*Lynx rufus*) — Bobcats stalk and ambush rabbits in dense cover. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a rabbit, watch quietly from a distance and don't try to touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cottontail Rabbits? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Cottontail Rabbits? 36-48 cm ### How much does Cottontail Rabbits weigh? 0.8-1.5 kg ### How long does Cottontail Rabbits live? 1-3 years ### How fast can Cottontail Rabbits move? 45 km/h ### What does Cottontail Rabbits eat? Cottontails munch on plants like grasses, clover, and bark to grow strong. ### Where is Cottontail Rabbits usually found? Grasslands ### How does Cottontail Rabbits hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Clear Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clear-lake-park) — Florida, US · Park ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Cottontail Rabbits: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cottontail-rabbits)