Sylvilagus nuttallii

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	LAGOMORPHA	LEPORIDAE

Scientific Name:

Sylvilagus nuttallii

Species Authority:

(Bachman, 1837)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Mountain Cottontail, Nuttall's Cottontail

Taxonomic Notes:

There are three recognized subspecies: Sylvilagus nuttallii nuttallii, S. n. pinetis, and S. n. grangeri (Chapman 1975).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Smith, A.T. & Boyer, A.F.

Reviewer/s:

Johnston, C.H. and Smith, A.T. (Lagomorph Red List Authority)

Justification:
Sylvilagus nuttallii is common throughout most of its range (Chapman and Ceballos 1990), and does not appear to be experiencing significant decline.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Sylvilagus nuttallii occurs in the western USA in the intermountain area, from just north of the Canadian border in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan to northern New Mexico and Arizona, and from the eastern Rocky Mountains to the eastern Cascade-Sierra Nevada Range, extending north just into British Columbia (Chapman 1975). The range of S. nuttallii has been largely taken over by S. floridanus in south-eastern North Dakota (Genoways and Jones 1972). In California, S. nuttallii occurs from 1,372 m to at least 3,200 m in elevation (Chapman 1975).
Countries:	Native: Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan); United States (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Sylvilagus nuttallii is a common species throughout most of its range (Chapman and Ceballos 1990). The species has a varying population density from 0.06 to 2.5 per hectare in central Oregon, where it inhabits juniper scrublands (Chapman and Ceballos 1990).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Sylvilagus nuttallii occurs in a variety of habitats throughout its range. In the north it primarily occupies sagebrush habitat, while in the south it occurs more frequently in forested areas (Chapman and Ceballos 1990). S. nuttallii feeds on sagebrush and juniper all year where this vegetation occurs, but grasses are preferred when available in spring and summer (Chapman 1975). The breeding season is variable throughout the range of S. nuttallii (Chapman and Ceballos 1990). Gestation is 28-30 days (Chapman 1999). A female may produce between two and five litters each year, with between four and six young in each litter (Chapman and Ceballos 1990). HB length is 33.8-37.1 cm (Chapman 1975).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Sylvilagus nuttallii occurs in a variety of habitats throughout its range. In the north it primarily occupies sagebrush habitat, while in the south it occurs more frequently in forested areas (Chapman and Ceballos 1990).

S. nuttallii feeds on sagebrush and juniper all year where this vegetation occurs, but grasses are preferred when available in spring and summer (Chapman 1975). The breeding season is variable throughout the range of S. nuttallii (Chapman and Ceballos 1990). Gestation is 28-30 days (Chapman 1999). A female may produce between two and five litters each year, with between four and six young in each litter (Chapman and Ceballos 1990). HB length is 33.8-37.1 cm (Chapman 1975).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The spread of Sylvilagus floridanus has led to displacement of S. nuttallii in southeastern North Dakota (Genoways and Jones 1972).

Major Threat(s):

The spread of Sylvilagus floridanus has led to displacement of S. nuttallii in southeastern North Dakota (Genoways and Jones 1972).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Sylvilagus nuttallii is a common game species managed by individual state wildlife agencies, which regulate bag limits and hunting seasons (Chapman and Ceballos 1990).

Conservation Actions:

Sylvilagus nuttallii is a common game species managed by individual state wildlife agencies, which regulate bag limits and hunting seasons (Chapman and Ceballos 1990).

Citation:	Smith, A.T. & Boyer, A.F. 2008. Sylvilagus nuttallii. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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