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"),
Hare while rabbits are raised for food and kept as house pets. The domestic pet known as the "Belgian Hare" is a rabbit that has been selectively bred to resemble a hare. Hares have jointed, or kinetic, skulls, unique among mammals. They have 48 chromosomes while rabbits have 44. The 32 species listed are: Hares and rabbits are plentiful in many areas, adapt to a wide variety of conditions, and reproduce quickly, so hunting is often less regulated than for other varieties of game. In rural areas of North America and particularly in pioneer times, they were a common source of