Swamp Rabbit

Sylvilagus aquaticus

Swamp Rabbits are big, fluffy rabbits that love to live in wet areas like swamps and marshes. They are great swimmers and can hop fast to escape from danger!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Swamp Rabbit has coarse, grizzled brown-black fur on its back, a white belly, and a distinctive reddish-brown patch on its hind legs. Its small, dark tail helps distinguish it from other cottontails, and it often appears muddy.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderLagomorphaFamilyLeporidaeGenusSylvilagus

Swamp Rabbit

Interesting facts

Eating plants and spreading seeds helps new growth sprout in their wetland homes!

Swamp Rabbits nest in hollow logs or elevated ground, staying safe from floods.

They are sometimes called 'Cane Cutters' because they often live in cane thickets!

They thump their strong hind legs on the ground to warn other swamp rabbits of danger!

Special abilities

Swamp Rabbits can swim and dive expertly using their strong, web-like feet to escape predators in water.

Swamp Rabbits have long, powerful hind legs and large feet that help them leap through muddy, wet environments with ease.

Swamp Rabbits have grizzled brown fur that helps them blend perfectly with the dark, muddy banks of their swamp homes.

Measurements & details

Length: 45-55 cm
Weight: 1.5-2.7 kg
Lifespan: 1-3 years
Top Speed: 56 km/h
Litter Size: 1-6
Gestation: 35-40 days

Diet & Feeding

These rabbits munch on various leafy plants, grasses, and bark found in their wetland homes.

Primary Foods

grasses
sedges
rushes
aquatic plants
bark
twigs

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

Alligators prey on rabbits in wetland areas.

eaten by

Bobcat

Lynx rufus

Bobcats hunt swamp rabbits as a food source.

eaten by

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Great Horned Owls are aerial predators of rabbits.

eaten by

Coyote

Canis latrans

Coyotes often hunt swamp rabbits for food.

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.