Marsh Rabbit

Sylvilagus palustris

The Marsh Rabbit is a small, fluffy rabbit that loves to live in wet areas like marshes and swamps. They have big ears and a short tail, making them super cute and fun to watch!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Marsh Rabbit is a medium-sized rabbit with short, rounded ears and a dark, reddish-brown coat. Its coarse, water-repellent fur helps it stay dry, and unlike other rabbits, its tail is dark brown all over, not white underneath.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderLagomorphaFamilyLeporidaeGenusSylvilagus

Marsh Rabbit

Interesting facts

Marsh Rabbits can actually dive completely underwater to hide from danger!

They leave a distinct scent trail when traveling through their swampy home.

They often build their nests on small dry mounds of vegetation.

Unlike most rabbits, their tail is dark brown all over, not fluffy white.

Special abilities

Marsh Rabbits can swim powerfully underwater to escape predators or find food in their wetland home.

Marsh Rabbits have small, rounded ears that help them move easily through dense marsh plants without snagging.

Marsh Rabbits have coarse, dark fur that blends perfectly with muddy banks and dark water, making them hard to spot.

Measurements & details

Length: 43-45 cm
Weight: 1.6-1.7 kg
Lifespan: 1-4 years
Top Speed: 29 km/h
Litter Size: 2-4
Gestation: 30-37 days

Diet & Feeding

These plant-eaters munch on wetland grasses and aquatic plants found in their watery home!

Primary Foods

cordgrass
cattails
sedges
water hyacinth
rushes

Foraging Method

Foraging

Preys on them during twilight hours.

eats

Broadleaf Cattail

Typha latifolia

A common aquatic plant in their diet.

eats

Black Needle Rush

Juncus roemerianus

Feeds on this common marsh plant.

Traits

Furry

Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.