Desert Cottontail

Sylvilagus audubonii

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Mammalia · Lagomorpha · Leporidae

About

The desert cottontail, also known as Audubon's cottontail, is a New World cottontail rabbit, and a member of the family Leporidae. Unlike the European rabbit, they do not form social burrow systems, but compared with some other leporids, they are extremely tolerant of other individuals in their vicinity.

Fun Fact

Desert cottontails can survive in arid environments by obtaining all their water from the plants they eat — they also re-ingest their own soft faecal pellets (cecotropes) to extract maximum nutrition.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Deserts and grasslands

Diet

Herbivore

Lifespan

2-3 years

Threats

Agricultural Conversion
Urban Expansion

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

More Mammals Species

Abbott's Duiker EN Abbott's Gibbon EN Addax CR African Elephant EN African Forest Elephant CR African Wild Ass CR

Browse all Mammals →