Swamp rabbit

The swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus), also known as the cane cutter, swamper, or cane jake, is a <a href="/facts/Species/oDg6b96r">species</a> of <a href="/facts/Cottontail_rabbit/Rcweo6D4">cottontail rabbit</a> found in the <a href="/facts/Swamp/rjE9QKpm">swamps</a> and <a href="/facts/Wetland/9abbP7CR">wetlands</a> of the <a href="/facts/Southern_United_States/ppnGuAtB">southern United States</a>. It is <a href="/facts/Herbivorous/me4YFdQA">herbivorous</a>, <a href="/facts/Territory_(animal)/T15S7XeD">territorial</a>, and <a href="/facts/Nocturnal/PqAkbpKf">nocturnal</a>. The largest of the cottontail rabbits, it is similar in appearance to the <a href="/facts/Eastern_cottontail/oSR1u0h6">eastern cottontail</a>, but has distinctly smaller ears and orange-colored hind legs. Swamp rabbits are closely related to the <a href="/facts/Marsh_rabbit/l8467G7J">marsh rabbit</a>. The two species likely separated during the <a href="/facts/Pleistocene/0ya9eUp5">Pleistocene</a> epoch.
The swamp rabbit is most abundant in <a href="/facts/Alabama/1Xk8EveN">Alabama</a>, <a href="/facts/Mississippi/7KwuWxxT">Mississippi</a>, and <a href="/facts/Louisiana/2GvfFcKE">Louisiana</a>, and also inhabits <a href="/facts/South_Carolina/lQQX84IS">South Carolina</a>, <a href="/facts/Arkansas/Qun124UP">Arkansas</a>, <a href="/facts/Tennessee/A3mLY9bu">Tennessee</a>, <a href="/facts/Texas/B987WHF0">Texas</a>, <a href="/facts/Oklahoma/fK28L1a4">Oklahoma</a>, <a href="/facts/Missouri/wQ3VAb99">Missouri</a>, <a href="/facts/Kentucky/DaTW05Rt">Kentucky</a>, <a href="/facts/Illinois/MuPb1Ctn">Illinois</a>, <a href="/facts/Indiana/VRnvjXoQ">Indiana</a>, <a href="/facts/Georgia_(U.S._state)/KKnTDY6F">Georgia</a>. Its habitat is largely dominated by regions near <a href="/facts/Lowland/WFatkmW0">lowland</a> water. Unlike other cottontail rabbits, the swamp rabbit is territorial and maintains a social order between higher- and lower-ranking males and females via displays of dominance, vocalizations, and occasional fighting. This rabbit is unique in that it ventures into water on its own, unlike other <a href="/facts/Texas/B987WHF0">Texas</a> rabbits, and is rarely spotted during the day due to its secretive nature. When threatened, it will take to water and swim. Swamp rabbits in a given population usually <a href="/facts/Reproductive_synchrony/05adVrF8">breed around the same time</a>, giving birth to young that are born blind, immobile, and <a href="/facts/Altricial/C8JqqyaX">completely dependent</a> for the first few days. Their nests—called forms—are lined with fur and grass. Each litter produces one to six young. The <a href="/facts/Breeding_season/rXkwAzpM">breeding season</a> varies across the species' range: In Texas, the breeding season lasts all year, but elsewhere occurs between February and August.
Predators, parasites, and human interaction pose threats to the swamp rabbit. <a href="/facts/Dog/DvQVRVzy">Dogs</a>, <a href="/facts/American_alligator/xHStTfHT">American alligators</a>, and <a href="/facts/Feral_pig/VbyS8oW3">feral pigs</a> prey upon the swamp rabbit, and it is a potential host to several parasites—<a href="/facts/Nematode/yLMJ43Eu">roundworms</a>, <a href="/facts/Trematoda/d3J87oDn">flukes</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Rabbit_tick/R59sdW7E">rabbit tick</a>. The swamp rabbit is also affected by <a href="/facts/Tularemia/YGQKDcrW">tularemia</a>, an <a href="/facts/Infectious_disease/182XrncP">infectious disease</a>. It is hunted for its meat and fur, and faces <a href="/facts/Habitat_loss/pyPMkBCY">habitat loss</a> due to expansion of agricultural developments that both remove usable habitat and cause frequent flooding. The <a href="/facts/International_Union_for_Conservation_of_Nature/QwV8JXup">International Union for Conservation of Nature</a> lists it as a <a href="/facts/Least-concern_species/8u7koV5r">least-concern species</a>, but in some states it is protected as a vulnerable or <a href="/facts/Species_of_concern/u2RfvWxa">special concern</a> species.

Swamp rabbit open-in-new

Swamp rabbit