Home > Animals > Mammals > Eastern cottontail rabbit

Eastern cottontail rabbit

(Sylvilagus floridanus)

 

Category: Mammals

 

 

The Eastern cottontail is one of the most common and widespread species of rabbit in North America. They prefer to live in meadows and shrubby areas with abundant green grasses and herbs. They do not dig their own burrows, but may use the underground dens of other animals. They are most active during times of limited visibility, such as foggy or rainy nights.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_cottontail

 

Data & Facts

Scientific Classification
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Mammalia
Order - Lagomorpha
Family - Leporidae
Genus - Sylvilagus
Species - S. floridanus

 
Did you know?
Interesting Animal Facts

The Opossum Ain’t Playing

Many people associate playing dead with the opossum - that’s where the term “playing opossum” comes from, after all. But something you might not know is that when an opossum feigns death, it really goes all out! Not content with merely closing its eyes and laying down, the opossum begins drooling profusely as if ill or even rabid, releases a putrid, greenish fluid from its anal glands that makes it smell like a decaying corpse, and after losing consciousness may even mimic rigor mortis! This is quite the elaborate routine, but it isn’t conscious: when an opossum plays dead, it has actually gone into shock due to stress.

Learn more >>

 


NAIA - National Animal Interest Alliance Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
To learn more about the NAIA or about other NAIA programs, visit us at www.NAIAOnline.org
if you would like to help, join or support the NAIA or any of its programs please click here >>