Sylvilagus aquaticus
swamp rabbit

Sylvilagus aquaticus can be found in most of the south-central United States and the Gulf coast. It is abundant in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Sylvilagus aquaticus can also be found in parts of South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, and Georgia. (Chapman and Feldhamer, 1981; Nowak, 1999)

Sylvilagus aquaticus prefers to live in swampy lowlands, marshy areas, floodplains, tributaries of larger rivers, and cypress swamps. It is typically found close to water. Swamp rabbits spend the day in self-made depressions in tall grass, leaves, or anything that provides cover until their nocturnal foraging bouts. (Chapman and Feldhamer, 1981; Nowak, 1999)

Sylvilagus aquaticus is the largest member of its genus, the cottontails. However, its ears are smaller relative to other cottontails. The head and back are usually a mix of dark brown, rusty brown, or black. The throat, ventral surface and tail are white. A clear cinnamon-colored ring is visible around the eye. Males are slightly larger than females. Males weigh from 1816 to 2554 grams, with an average of 2235 g. Females are from 1646 to 2668 grams, averaging 2161 g.

Altricial young are born with fur up to 5 mm long with a weight of approximately 61.4 g. At birth, their fur color is dark (either brown or black) on their back, sides and throat. The tail, chin and abdomen are white. The head is a mix of tan and black. Their eyes are closed when born and open in 4 to 7 days. (Chapman and Feldhamer, 1981; Nowak, 1999; Scheibe and Henson, 2003)

There is not much known about the wild or captive lifespans of Sylvilagus aquaticus because there have been very few studies examining this topic. Other Sylvilagus species live from 7 to 9 years maximum. ("Swamp Rabbit Ecology", 2000; Chapman and Feldhamer, 1981; Chapman, 2007; Class et al., 2006; Fowler and Kissell, 2007; Nowak, 1999)

Sylvilagus aquaticus is most active at dawn, dusk, and at night. During the day they remain hidden and motionless, usually in a large hollow log or dense grass. They only move when a predator is too close to them. When a predator get too close they flee in a zig-zag pattern. They will jump into water and stay perfectly still, with only their nose above the water's surface.

Within a population of swamp rabbits, there is a linear dominance hierarchy among males, which helps limit fighting, once established. Only during breeding season do aggressive encounters occur between males, as they pursue a female. Females in the population have a mutual tolerance of one another. ("Swamp Rabbit Ecology", 2000; Chapman and Feldhamer, 1981; Nowak, 1999)

Home Range

Swamp rabbits are territorial, and males practice "chinning" which is a pheromone-marking activity. These territories range in size from 0.01 to 0.08 square km (2.1 to 18.9 acres). ("Swamp Rabbit Ecology", 2000; Chapman and Feldhamer, 1981)

Swamp rabbits are normally not vocal except when they feel threatened. Males also leave scent marks to establish territories. Other Sylvilagus species also drum the ground with their rear feet to indicate aggression. ("Swamp Rabbit Ecology", 2000; Chapman and Feldhamer, 1981; Chapman, 2007)

Swamp rabbits are herbivores, foraging on a variety of plant materials, including grasses, sedges, shrubs, tree bark, tree seedlings, and twigs. Helm and Chabreck (2006) found that their preferred foods include savannah panicgrass (Phanopyrun gymnocarpon), false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), dewberry (Rubus sieboldii) and greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox). Swamp rabbits practice coprophagy. They have two kinds of fecal matter. The first is soft and green and still had nutrients in it--this is the kind that they eat because it gives them a chance to get more nutrients out of the food. The second kind of fecal matter are dark brown/black hard pellets--they do not eat these. (Chapman and Feldhamer, 1981; Choate, Knock Jones, and Jones, 1994; Fowler and Kissell, 2007; Helm and Chabreck, 2006; Nowak, 1999)

There are few known predators of Sylvilagus aquaticus, but known predators include domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), and humans (Homo sapiens). This species is the 2nd most hunted rabbit in the United States. They use a combination of cryptic coloration and "freezing" to avoid being detected and a rapid, irregular jumping pattern when fleeting to avoid capture. (Chapman and Feldhamer, 1981)

Swamp rabbits are important prey in their native ecosystems and their herbivory influences plant communities.

Swamp rabbits are affected by several parasites which include the trematodes Hasstilesia texensis and Hasstilesia tricolor, the cestodes Cittotaenia ctenoides, Cittotaenia variabilis, Multiceps serialis, and Raillietina stilesiellacestodes, the nematodes Graphidium strigosum, Nematodirus leporis, Obeliscoides cuniculi, Parasalurus ambiguous, Trichostrongylus calcaratus, and Trichuris leporis, fleas, ticks, and mites Haemaphysalis leporis-palustris. ("Swamp Rabbit Ecology", 2000; Chapman and Feldhamer, 1981)

Swamp rabbits are usually harmless, but may occasionally damage crops and other vegetation. ("Swamp Rabbit Ecology", 2000)

Swamp rabbits are hunted for fur, meat, and for sport in the southeastern United States. ("Swamp Rabbit Ecology", 2000)

The IUCN rank of this species is Lower Risk/Least Concern. Sylvilagus aquaticus has a global rank of "Secure" from NatureServe2007. In Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana populations are considered secure. Swamp rabbits are vulnerable in Kentucky and Arkansas and imperiled in Oklahoma and South Carolina. (Chapman, 2007)