| Class: |
Mammalia |
|
||
| Order: | Lagomorpha | |||
| Family: | Leporidae (long ears, long hind legs, short cottony tail) | |||
| Genus: | Sylviagus | |||
| Species: | audubonii | |||
| Name/ History: |
Desert cottontail | |||
| Size: |
Male
|
Female
|
Young
|
|
| Weight (lbs) |
1.4-2.75
|
same
|
1.2-2
oz
|
|
| Height (in) |
12-15
|
same
|
||
| Ear (in) |
3-4
|
same
|
||
| Mate: | March-September (varies with area) | |||
| Gestation: | 1 month | |||
| Birth: | April-October born blind | |||
| # young: | 2-6 | |||
| Age: | 2 years | |||
| Habitat/ Range: |
Open plains, foothills, low valley, grass, sage, brush. Found from the Rocky Mountain states south to Mexico. | |||
| Food: | Herbs, forbs, grasses | |||
| Enemies: | Coyote, badger, skunk, eagles, bobcat, raccoon, hawk, rattlesnake | |||
| Disease: | Ticks, leptospirosis | |||
| Communication: | Death screams, foot pounding | |||
| Behavior/ Characteristics: |
It has a larger body size, bigger ears, and grayer fur than cottontails. | |||
