Appalachian cottontail (Sylvilagus obscurus) Characteristics. Appalachian cottontails are solitary creatures. [8] She then pulls out her fur from her underbelly and gathers berries and leaves in order to provide a lining for the nest.
The Appalachian cottontail is also somewhat smaller. In general, Appalachian cottontails have a thick, dark line around the edge of their slightly shorter ears and usually have a black spot between the ears, lacking the eastern cottontail’s white forehead spot or rust color between the ears.
Coprophagy, the eating of its own feces, often occurs as it is useful for it to take up certain vitamins and nutrients that weren’t digested well in the first pass of digestion. Prior to …
Appalachian Cottontails are more forest dwelling than Eastern Cottontails. They prefer cool, boreal environment near areas of hemlock, rhododendron, or mountain laurel. We will then send an email containing a link to reset your password. They are commonly found in dense conifer and deciduous forests at higher elevations, and are the only cottontails known to feed heavily on conifer needles. DLiA to Host Talk on Community Science SnapIt & MapIt Project, Come one, come all to the Salamander Ball, bridges in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. S. obscurus is better adapted to colder climates than its distant relative, S. floridanus, the eastern cottontail. Official Web Site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, © 2020 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 64 N. Union Street, Suite 468 - Montgomery, Alabama 36130, Physically Disabled Hunting and Fishing Trail. [11] Often this is what the Appalachian cottontail feeds on as well as bark and twigs of trees such as red maple, aspen, and black cherry. The forehead has a small black spot and the anterior edges of … The species cannot be conclusively distinguished from the eastern cottontail just using external traits. The Appalachian cottontail (Sylvilagus obscurus) is a species of cottontail rabbit in the family Leporidae. At one time, the range of the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) was thought to extend from southern Maine through the Appalachians to northern Alabama. The Appalachian cottontail is very similar in appearance to the eastern cottontail.
Lagomorphs are characterized by 2 pairs of incisors.
This species eats herbaceous plants in the summer and bark, twigs and buds in the winter. A prey species, they rely on overhead cover as a shield against hawks and owls, and thick lower vegetation to escape coyotes, foxes, and bobcats. The weight of the Appalachian Cottontail can range from as little as 756 grams (1.667 lb) up to as much as 1,153 grams (2.542 lb). They have spent part of the past three years learning more about this fascinating critter in a study sponsored by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and hosted in part by Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The suture line is where the nasal bones attach to the skull. “In higher elevations, the rabbits selectively used heath balds and spruce-fir forest,” said Diggins. "Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. [10] The Appalachian Mountains provide for S. obscurus a habitat with cover and vegetation such as blackberry, greenbriar, and mountain laurel.
The lack of education on existence, biology, and habitat requirements of these animals also contribute to them being threatened. Ericaceous vegetation includes Vacciniums (such as the huckleberries seen here) and mountain laurel.
During the day they typically avoid predators by sheltering under logs or in burrows. The coat of this rabbit is whitish on the underparts, grayish to brown to reddish brown mixed with black on the dorsum. Their tails are short and fluffy, being darker on the top and white below. 10.1656/1092-6194(2007)14[99:SHRADM]2.0.CO;2, "USDA." “But logging and habitat fragmentation over the last few centuries has potentially aided this species’ invasion into Appalachian cottontail habitat at higher elevations, which may contribute to instances of hybridization. The Appalachian cottontail is a rare and descendant species of the cottontail rabbit. Appalachian cottontails are found in several different habitat types.
Appalachian cottontails are found in the eastern United States ranging from Pennsylvania to South Carolina and being most prominent in the Appalachian Mountains. Appalachian cottontails serve as prey for owls, hawks, dogs, foxes, and humans. This study laid the foundation, but more work needs to be done.
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This species is probably being displaced by the eastern cottontail in areas where human disturbance is great.
“Because of the difficulties in identifying this species in the field, we were not even certain a population of Appalachian cottontails remained in the Smokies. Distribution.
The generic name Sylvilagus is derived from Latin sylva (woods) and lagus (hare), together meaning "hare of the woods". Typically, they are inactive during midwinter, but as the nights shorten and the days lengthen, sexual activity develops strongly amongst Sylvilagus; the reason for this being that day length directly correlates with stimulation of FSH in the female’s blood which then in turn stimulates the follicles to develop ova. The Appalachian cottontail is adapted its role of prey, and because of this it typically has heightened senses of smell, hearing, and sight. [6], Little is known about the reproductive habits of the Appalachian cottontail, but much can be based on knowledge of the genus Sylvilagus and the reproductive habits of most rabbits. They consume fruits in their diet and thus act as seed dispersers. We also need to understand how habitat fragmentation influences the invasion of eastern cottontails into Appalachian cottontail habitat.”.
[14] This genus consists of 13 different species which are found throughout North America, Central America, and northern South America. The Appalachian cottontail has a jagged suture line, while in the Eastern cottontail it is smooth. As the scientific name suggests, it is not easy to see and is hard to distinguish from its cousin, the very similar eastern cottontail. Sylvilagus obscurus. The total length is 390-410 mm and the weight is .9-1.5 kg. These rabbits don't hibernate being active year-round. S. obscurus is light-yellow brown, mixed with black on the dorsal side, having a brown and red patch mixed on the neck. During the day they typically avoid predators by sheltering under logs or in burrows. [16], Media related to Sylvilagus obscurus at Wikimedia Commons, Joly, Kyle, and Wayne Myers. It is a rare species found in the upland areas of the eastern United States. [4], Sylvilagus obscurus is typically active around dusk or at dawn. The Appalachian cottontail (Sylvilagus obscurus) can be found at higher elevations in the mountains of the southeast.
The nests consist of a ground depression about 4 inches deep and 5 inches wide is generally lined with fur and grass and with a cap over the top. Why are the American Mountain-ash Berries So Spectacular this year?
Appalachian cottontails are small rabbits that are well adapted to colder climates.
[3] Female Appalachian cottontails are typically larger than males with reproductive needs being the most likely cause. The most reliable characteristic to distinguish Appalachian from Eastern cottontails is the presence of a dark patch between the ears in Appalachian cottontails (Litvaitis et al. In Alabama, the Appalachian cottontail occurs on the extreme periphery of its distribution and remains understudied.
© 2020 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. [1], The Appalachian cottontail, Sylvilagus obscurus, is a small rabbit inhabiting mostly mountainous regions in the eastern U.S. ranging from Pennsylvania to South Carolina and being most prominent in the Appalachians. The most limiting factor is the availability of suitable habitat, so protection of habitat is obviously important. The cheeks are grizzled, buffy gray and black. The species has a discontinuous distribution in the Appalachians from
They are active around dusk or at dawn. Appalachian cottontails have acute senses of smell, hearing, and sight.
This allows them to notice predators and react quickly to threats. These rabbits occur in the forests of eastern and middle Tennessee mountains. The Appalachian cottontail is generally thought of as preferring high-elevation, cold habitat, but the researchers found them in locations that were generally cool, though not necessarily the coldest spots, and in sites that were fairly wet year-round.
They likely rely heavily on herbaceous forages in spring/summer and more on woody vegetation during the winter months. The Appalachian cottontail is also difficult to distinguish from the Eastern cottontail, with only slight differences in color and size. Ford, Mark, Brian Chaman, and Margaret Trani. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.
The Appalachian cottontail (Sylvilagus obscurus) is a charismatic high-elevation species of rabbit thought to be restricted to the Appalachian Mountains south of New York.
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