The swamp rabbit is part of the lagomorph order. Lagomorphs include rabbits, hares and pikas. There are a lot of interesting animal facts to be learned about the swamp rabbit. As the name suggest it lives mostly in swamp or swamp like habitats. The swamp rabbit needs water within its home range in order to survive. The swamp rabbit is not found outside of the United States of America.
Physical Characteristics
The swamp rabbit is 18 to 22 inches long with a 1 ½ inch long tail and weighs 3 ¼ to 5 ½ pounds. It is the largest of the cottontail rabbit genus. It has relatively small ears. Its fur is black to rust brown. It has cinnamon colored eye rings. Its underside as well as its throat and tail are white. The male is slightly bigger then the female.
Behavioral Characteristics
The swamp rabbit lives in groups. Its groups are small and usually led by a dominant male. It is a good swimmer and will swim without hesitation especially if it is threatened by a predator or human. It is awake both during the day and the night. It shelters in an above ground nest that is made out of plant stems and stalks. During the breeding season the female will make a breeding nest that she lines with her own fur.
Life Cycle
In most areas the breeding season of the swamp rabbit occurs from mid to late February but in some regions there is not defined breeding season and breeding occurs all year round. Most females have 2 or 3 litters each year. The gestation or pregnancy lasts 35 to 40 days and a single litter contains 1 to 6 offspring. The young reach independence at a mere 12 to 15 days old and are sexually mature by the time they reach 30 weeks. Although capable of breeding during their first breeding season most do not. The maximum lifespan of this species in the wild is 10 years however the average is a little less then 2.
The swamp rabbit feeds on sedges, rushes and other aquatic plants. It will even eat swamp bamboos.
Habitat
The swamp rabbit is found in the south east of United States always near regions with plenty of water. It is normally located in habits with marshes, creeks, pools or swamps. It is most common in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana but can also be found in parts of South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana and Georgia.
Conservation Status
The swamp rabbit is classified as least concern on the IUCN (International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) red list of threatened species. This classification is the lowest and means the species has a large widespread, population and no current threats that would likely decrease its population in the foreseeable future.
References:
Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World’s Wildlifeby, David Burnie and Don E. Wilson
Roszko, A. and K. Francl. 2007. “Sylvilagus aquaticus” (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed August 31, 2009 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Sylvilagus_aquaticus.html.
