| Cottontail rabbits |
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 Eastern Cottontail in the US |
| Scientific classification |
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| | Species |
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Sylvilagus aquaticus Swamp Rabbit
Sylvilagus auduboni Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus bachmani Brush Rabbit
Sylvilagus brasiliensis Forest Rabbit
Sylvilagus cunicularis Mexican Cottontail
Sylvilagus dicei Dice's Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus graysoni Tres Marias Rabbit
Sylvilagus insonus Omilteme Cottontail
Sylvilagus mansuetus San Jose Brush Rabbit
Sylvilagus nuttallii Mountain Cottontail
Sylvilagus palustris Marsh Rabbit
Sylvilagus transitionalis New England Cottontail
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The cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus) are a genus of American lagomorphs in the family Leporidae, in appearance closely similar to the wild European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cunicularis). Most members of the genus have a stub tail with a white underside that shows when they are retreating, and this is what gives them their name. However, this feature is not present in all cottontails (for example, the underside of the Brush Rabbit's tail is grey), nor is it unique to the genus - the European Rabbit also has a white scut.
The genus is widely distributed across North America, though most species are confined to particular regions. Most (though not all) species live in burrows, and all have altricial young.
 A young cottontail rabbit in the wild, midwest US |
