Sylvilagus obscurus, Chapman, Cramer, Deppenaar & Robinson, 1992

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Leporidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 107-148 : 124

26.

Appalachian Cottontail

Sylvilagus obscurus

French: Lapin des Appalaches / German: Appalachen-Baumwollschwanzkaninchen / Spanish: Conejo de los Apalaches

Other common names: Allegheny Cottontail, Wood Rabbit

Taxonomy. Sylvilagus obscurus Chapman et al., 1992 ,

“Dolly Sods Scenic Area, Grant Co., West Virginia,” USA.

Formerly, S. obscurus was included in S. transitionalis but received species status due to discovery of two different cytotypes ( S. obscurus 2n = 46 and S. transitionalis 2n = 52) and cranial distinctiveness. No hybridization occurs between S. obscurus and S. transitionalis . Nevertheless, genetic analysis of mtDNA showed little variation between the two species and did not support separation between S. obscurus and S. transitionalis . This species lives sympatrically with S. floridanus . Monotypic.

Distribution. Discontinuous patches in N Pennsylvania, S & W along the Appalachian Mts to N Alabama (E USA).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 390-430 mm, tail 22-65 mm, ear 50-60 mm, hindfoot 87-97 mm; weight 0.8-1 kg. The Appalachian Cottontail strongly resembles the New England Cottontail (S. transitionalis ) and both species can have the same color and pelage characteristics. None ofits external measurements is clearly diagnostic for differentiation between the two species.

Habitat. High-elevation montane habitats of conifers, particularly red spruce ( Picea rubens, Pinaceae ), and ericaceous species such as mountain laurel ( Kalmia latifolia), rhododendron ( Rhododendron maximum), and blueberries ( Vaccinium spp. ). Appalachian Cottontails also use mixed oak forests, early successional habitats with dense ericaceous vegetation or blackberry ( Rubus allegheniensis, Rosaceae ), and old growth forest with dense understory. It generally uses habitat with vegetation cover of more than 80%, providing shelter and thermal protection.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Appalachian Cottontail includes ferns, grasses, forbs, shrubs, and conifer needles—the latter rare for species of Sylvilagus . It prefers to eat ericaceous plants such as eastern teaberry ( Gaultheria procumbens), blueberries, black huckleberry ( Gaylussacia baccata), and chokeberries ( Photinia spp. , Rosaceae ) as browse during winter.

Breeding. Reproductive season of the Appalachian Cottontail lasts from early March through early September. It is a synchronous breeder. Gestation is c.28 days. A female has an average of 24 young/year, and littersize is 3-5 young.

Activity patterns. The Appalachian Cottontail is crepuscular and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home range sizes of the Appalachian Cottontail are 5-7-13-3 ha during the vegetation growing period (May-September) and 1-5-9 ha during the dormant season (October—April). Core areas are 0-9-2-5 ha during the growing period and 0-1-2-5 ha during the dormant season. Male Appalachian Cottontails had larger home ranges during the growing period than the dormant season, but female ranges did not differ seasonally.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. The Appalachian Cottontail is rare and has a fragmented distribution. It is common only in some sections of eastern Tennessee and Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. The Appalachian Cottontail appears to be declining, but there is no data on current population status. Threats are habitat destruction, fragmentation, and maturation; urbanization and development; encroachment by the Eastern Cottontail that thrives better in developed areas and requires less shelter than the Appalachian Cottontail; and indiscriminate hunting because Eastern Cottontails and Appalachian Cottontails cannot be differentiated in the field. Recommendations are to investigate population status, distribution, threats, population genetics, biology, and ecology of Appalachian Cottontails, followed by establishment of appropriate management plans and protected areas.

Bibliography. Barry & Lazell (2008), Boyce & Barry (2007), Bunch et al. (1997), Chapman (1975a, 1999b), Chapman et al. (1992), Hartman & Barry (2010), Hoffmann & Smith (2005), Litvaitis et al. (1997), Ruedas et al. (1989), Stevens & Barry (2002).

Figures

1. Amami Rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi), 2. Jameson’s Red Rock Hare (Pronolagus randensis), 3. Natal Red Rock Hare (Pronolagus crassicaudatus), 4. Smith’s Red Rock Hare (Pronolagus rupestris), 5. Hewitt’s Red Rock Hare (Pronolagus saundersiae), 6. Volcano Rabbit (Romerolagus diaz), 7. Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis), 8. Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), 9. Sumatran Striped Rabbit (Nesolagus netscher), 10. Annamite Striped Rabbit (Nesolagus timminsi), 11. Brush Rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani), 12. San Jose Brush Rabbit (Sylvilagus mansuetus), 13. Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii), 14. Mountain Cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii), 15. New England Cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis)

Distribution. Discontinuous patches in N Pennsylvania, S & W along the Appalachian Mts to N Alabama (E USA).