The CottonTail Rabbit

[dragonstar546]

Well, since I am a Zoologist in training, thought I'd do a little Profile on the cottontail rabbit. Enjoy!

Species: Cotton Tail Rabbit

Scientific Name: Sylvilagus floridanus

Length: 15 - 19 ¹/₂ in.

Tail : 1 - 2 ³/₄ in.

Weight : 2 ¹/₄ - 3 ¹/₄ lbs.

Social Unit: Group

Status: Least Concern

Location: S.E. Canada to Mexico, Central America, N. South America, Europe, N.W. United States.

Habitats: Temperate forest, Coniferous forest, Tropical forest, Desert & Semidesert, Open habitats, Evergreen forests.

Picture(s):

1:

2:

Features:
Large ears, small fluffy tail (hence the name), brown-furred, small paws.

Description
Cotton tail rabbits are the main characters of Watership Down. They are some of the most beloved to young children in real life, but sometimes they are the most hated, because the rabbits have habits to destroy peoples gardens by eating everything. Another thing is they enjoy burrowing under ground in peoples gardens, causing more trouble. The rabbits are very fun creatures to have as pets (as long as they're not wild lol). In fact, I had some when I was younger. But overall, the Cottontail rabbit is quite a lovable character in every way!






Text (c) Dragonstar546

[Azerane]

Look how cute they are! To be honest I had always assumec that the Watership rabbits were european rabbits, but I honestly don't think I've read anywhere what species they were. Perhaps I have, but don't remember.

In any case, it's nice to learn a bit about some of the many species of rabbit out there. They're such beautiful creatures. I'm pretty sure there's more than one species of cottontail though right? I vaguely remember doing a school project on them once.

On a side note, great to hear you want to be a zoologist, I studied the wildlife and conservation field too

[dragonstar546]

Well yes, the Cottontails are just a family of rabbits, European rabbits are inside that family if you want to go specific.

[Azerane]

In which case the scientific name is incorrect as it specifies a particular species (the eastern cottontail) and not cottontails in general Sorry for being picky, it's the scientist in me

hmm.... and now I've got to figure out why that smiley isn't working... and yet, now that i've edited... it is...

[dragonstar546]

Haha, okay.

[Azerane]

There are 16 species of cottontail rabbits, all confined to the Americas according to wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottontail_rabbit further research leads me to believe that the Watership rabbits are the european rabbit... hrmmm...

[dragonstar546]

This is confusing......

[Azerane]

That's Zoology and classification for you...

It doesn't help either when things get reclassified, though these days, that's mostly plants and other things... mostly..

[icewolf]

The book is set in England and we do have the European Rabbit here in the wild, so you was correct in thinking that it is the European species.