Robust cottontail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robust cottontail |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sylvilagus
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| Species: |
robustus
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| Robust cottontail range | |
The robust cottontail (Sylvilagus robustus) is a special type of cottontail rabbit. It is also known as the Davis Mountains cottontail. These rabbits live only in certain mountain areas. You can find them in the southwestern United States and nearby Mexico.
For a long time, people thought this rabbit was just a type of eastern cottontail. But scientists looked closely at their bodies. They also checked their DNA. This showed that the robust cottontail is its own unique species. It is different from other cottontails in its size and the shape of its teeth and skull.
Robust cottontails are usually about 42 centimeters (16.5 inches) long. They weigh between 1.3 and 1.8 kilograms (about 3 to 4 pounds). These rabbits prefer dry, brushy mountain areas. They live at high elevations, usually above 1500 meters (about 4,900 feet). Even though they are rare, no special group officially protects them yet.
Where Robust Cottontails Live
Historically, robust cottontails lived in four main mountain ranges. In Texas, they were found in the Guadalupe Mountains, Davis Mountains, and Chisos Mountains. In New Mexico, they lived in the Guadalupe Mountains. They were also found in the Sierra de la Madera in Coahuila, Mexico.
Sadly, the populations in the Chisos and Guadalupe Mountains in the U.S. are believed to be gone. This means they no longer live there.
