Marsh rabbit for muskrat meat. True marsh rabbit meat is often prepared as a stew, or it may be marinated, covered in flour, and fried. Marsh rabbit The marsh rabbit ("Sylvilagus palustris") is a small cottontail rabbit found in marshes and swamps of coastal regions of the Eastern and Southern United States. It is a strong swimmer and found only near regions of water. It is similar in appearance to the eastern cottontail ("Sylvilagus floridanus") but is characterized by smaller ears, legs, and tail. The scientific name "Sylvilagus palustris" derives from a combination of the Latin words "silva" ("forest") and "lagos" ("hare"),
Pygmy rabbit Pygmy rabbit The pygmy rabbit ("Brachylagus idahoensis") is a North American rabbit, and is one of only two rabbit species in America to dig its own burrow . The pygmy rabbit differs significantly from species within either the "Lepus" (hare) or "Sylvilagus" (cottontail) genera and is generally considered to be within the monotypic genus Brachylagus. One isolated population, the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, is listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Federal government, though the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as lower risk. The pygmy rabbit is the world's smallest leporid, with mean adult weights