ExploreMammals

Desert Cottontail

Sylvilagus audubonii

The Desert Cottontail is a fluffy rabbit that loves to hop around in the desert! With its big ears and soft fur, it is great at staying cool in the hot sun.

Habitat: Desert

Appearance

The Desert Cottontail has soft, sandy brown to grayish fur that blends perfectly with its desert home. Its most distinct feature is a fluffy white tail, shaped like a cotton ball, which is visible when it runs.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderLagomorphaFamilyLeporidaeGenusSylvilagus
Desert Cottontail
furry trait badgesocial trait badgeherbivorous trait badgedesert trait badge
Desert Cottontail

Category

Mammals

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

A female cottontail can have many litters of babies in a single year!

Baby cottontails are born blind and helpless, needing their mother's full care.

Cottontails don't dig burrows, they often use abandoned ones or hide in dense plants!

They communicate danger by thumping their powerful hind feet on the ground.

Special abilities

Ability

Zig-Zag Escape

Desert Cottontail can run in an unpredictable zig-zag pattern that helps them escape speedy predators by confusing them.

Ability

Super Hearing

Desert Cottontail has large, rotating ears that help them pinpoint faint sounds from far away to detect danger quickly.

Ability

Desert Camo Cloak

Desert Cottontail has fur coloring that perfectly matches desert rocks and plants, helping them hide from hungry eyes.

Ability

Nutrient Recycler

Desert Cottontail can eat its own special droppings to get extra nutrients, making sure no good food goes to waste!

Measurements & details

Length
30-38 cm
Weight
0.7-1.4 kg
Lifespan
1-2 years
Top Speed
30 km/h
Litter Size
1-6
Gestation
28-30 days

Diet & Feeding

This little herbivore munches on grasses, leaves, and twigs, staying hydrated from its food!

Primary Foods

  • grasses
  • forbs
  • leaves
  • twigs
  • bark
  • cactus

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

If you see a rabbit, watch it from a distance and don't try to touch it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Desert Cottontail?

30-38 cm

How much does Desert Cottontail weigh?

0.7-1.4 kg

How long does Desert Cottontail live?

1-2 years

How fast can Desert Cottontail move?

30 km/h

What does Desert Cottontail eat?

This little herbivore munches on grasses, leaves, and twigs, staying hydrated from its food!

Where is Desert Cottontail usually found?

Desert

How does Desert Cottontail hunt?

Foraging

How many babies does Desert Cottontail usually have?

1-6

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