Sylvilagus palustris
Marsh Rabbit
(See [figure 42])
Total length, 425-440; tail, 33-39; hind foot, 88-91; ear from notch (dry), 45-52. Upper parts blackish brown or reddish brown; underside of tail brownish or dingy gray (not white); ears, tail and hind feet short; posterior and anterior extensions of supraorbital processes joined to skull along most (or all) of their extent. The lack of white on the underside of the tail is a ready means of distinguishing this species from the other species of the genus which occur within its geographic range. The species occurs in the lowlands, possibly not above 500 feet altitude, of the Lower Austral and Tropical life-zones. In Florida, Blair (1936) found that the marsh rabbit ate 29 per cent of its bodily weight in green food each day and that the number of embryos in 3 females was 4, 4 and 3.
Sylvilagus palustris paludicola (Miller and Bangs).
1894. Lepus paludicola Miller and Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 9:105, June 9, type from Ft. Island, near Crystal Riv., Citrus Co., Fla.
1909. Sylvilagus palustris paludicola, Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, 29:269, August 31.
Marginal records.—Florida (Nelson, 1909:270): Hibernia [= Green Cove Springs]; San Mateo; along Atlantic Coast at least to Micco; Kissimmee River; Cape Sable; northward along Gulf Coast and on coastal islands at least to Suwanee River.
Sylvilagus palustris palustris (Bachman).
1837. Lepus palustris Bachman, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 7:194, type locality eastern South Carolina.
1909. Sylvilagus palustris, Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, 29:266, August 31.
Marginal records.—Nansemond County (Handley and Patton, 1947:190), southward along Atlantic Coast to northern Florida: Anastasia Island (Nelson, 1909:269). West to Gulf Coast and along Coast to Alabama: Bon Secour (Nelson, 1909:269); Flomaton (Howell, 1921:74); Dothan (ibid.). Georgia: Americus (Nelson, 1909:269). South Carolina: Society Hill (ibid.).