Editing Swamp rabbit (section)

== Ecology and behavior ==
[[File:Sylvilagus aquaticus - Wendy McCrady - 285301528 (cropped).jpeg|thumb|alt=A photograph of a rabbit standing on its hind legs in flowers and grass with its front paws on its face |Swamp rabbit in [[Brazoria County, Texas]], grooming itself]]

Swamp rabbits are [[Territory (animal)|territorial]], though they will tolerate some overlap between the [[home range]]s of individuals depending on the season.<ref name="Schai-Braun2016" /> These home ranges can vary in size from 1 to 12 hectares.<ref name="Nielsen-2018" /> They will mark their territory by "chinning"—marking objects with [[pheromone]]s produced from glands near the [[chin]]. This behavior is also noted in the [[European rabbit]].<ref name="Chapman-1981" /> Males that are competing for territory or status may fight, with battles sometimes resulting in the death of an individual. Males will stand up on their hind legs, lashing out with their teeth and claws, and will even use the claws on their hind feet in jumping attacks.<ref name="Reed-2008" /> However, compared to nonviolent displays of dominance and submission, fighting is rare.<ref name="Nielsen-2018" />

Swamp rabbits maintain social order through displays of dominance, and communicate directly through [[vocalizations]] such as squeaks, chirps, squeals and alert calls. Higher-ranking males will display dominance over lower-ranking males more frequently, and will move within the home ranges of females more frequently, with the [[alpha male]] copulating most often in a given season.<ref name="Nielsen-2018" /> The system of male dominance prevents injury between subordinate breeding males under the alpha, as the lower-ranking individuals will avoid higher-ranking males to prevent conflict. When escaping, swamp rabbits will use confusing maneuvers to evade a pursuer, such as jumping onto a log, running to the end, then backtracking and jumping off the other side.<ref name="Schai-Braun2016" /> They are excellent swimmers, and may also dive into water to escape, sometimes keeping only the nose and eyes above the water.<ref name="Nielsen-2018" />

=== Diet ===
Swamp rabbits are [[herbivorous]]; they eat a variety of [[foraging|foraged]] plants, including [[grass]]es, [[sedge]]s such as ''[[Carex]]'',<ref name="Twycrosszoo" /> [[shrub]]s, [[tree bark]] [[seedling]]s, and twigs.<ref name="ADW" /> Though mostly nocturnal, the swamp rabbit may emerge during rain showers to feed during the day.<ref name="Reed-2008" /> The preferred foods of ''S.&nbsp;aquaticus'' are savannah panicgrass (''[[Panicum]] gymnocarpum''), false nettle (''[[Boehmeria cylindrica]]''), dewberry (''[[Rubus trivialis]]'') and greenbrier (''[[Smilax bona-nox]]'').<ref name="ADW" />

Like all [[lagomorpha|lagomorphs]] (rabbits, hares, and [[Pika|pikas]]), the swamp rabbit performs [[cecotrope|cecotrophy]] to get more nutrition from its food.<ref name="ADW" /> In this process, food passes through the digestive tract twice, as the swamp rabbit will immediately consume moist pellets expelled from the anus without chewing and leave behind the dry pellets that are subsequently produced. This process is considered similar to the [[cud]]-chewing behavior of [[Ruminant|ruminants]].<ref name="Twycrosszoo" />

=== Reproduction ===
[[File:Sylvilagus aquaticus - Brandon Johnson - 484338650.jpeg|alt=A young swamp rabbit standing on four legs among rocks and grasses|thumb|right|Juvenile swamp rabbit]]

Swamp rabbits are [[Reproductive synchrony|synchronous breeders]], and tend to breed all at the same time within a population. Females will line a depression in the ground with fur and grass to form a birthing nest.<ref name="Reed-2008" /><ref name="Svihla-1929" /> These nests, also used for [[thermoregulation]], are known as ''forms'' and are common among the non-burrowing species of rabbit.<ref name="Milling-2017" /> Females give birth to [[altricial]] young—they are immobile upon birth, and only open their eyes and walk after three days. Weaning ends at 15 days, at which point the young leave the nest. They become sexually mature at seven months and reach their adult weight at 10 months.<ref name="Courtney-2008" /> Little is known about the [[Recruitment (biology)|recruitment]] behavior of juveniles into larger groups.<ref name="Nielsen-2018" />

The swamp rabbit's breeding season varies across its range. It occurs year-round in Texas, but elsewhere may take place between February and August. [[Spermatogenesis]] occurs in October and November according to a Missouri study, and in Mississippi, recorded males had descended [[testes]] more often in December and February than in any other months.<ref name="Bond-2006" /> [[Estrus]] lasts one hour following [[induced ovulation (animals)|induced ovulation]]. [[gestation period|Gestation]] lasts 37 days on average. Up to three litters are produced annually,<ref name="Heldstab-2021" /> with each litter producing one to six young. [[Embryo resorption]] can occur in ''S.&nbsp;aquaticus'' in response to stress, causing loss of litters. This is attributed to flooding, which can cause overcrowding<ref name="Courtney-2008" /> as well as directly inducing the release of [[stress hormone]]s.<ref name="Nielsen-2018" /><ref name="Robinson, 1983" />

=== Predators, parasites and diseases ===
Known predators of ''Sylvilagus aquaticus'' are [[Dog|domestic dogs]], [[American alligator]]s, and [[human]]s.<ref name="ADW" /> [[Feral pig]]s are also a potential predator.<ref name="Stevens-2023" /> The swamp rabbit cannot swim fast enough to escape hunting dogs,<ref name="CBC.ca" /> and so will attempt to escape pursuers by hiding under water among plants and brush with only its nose above the surface.<ref name="Reed-2008" /> The species is hunted for [[Rabbit fur|fur]], meat, and sport, and is the second-most commonly [[Rabbit hunting|hunted rabbit]] in the United States. Swamp rabbits have several [[adaptation]]s to avoid predators: [[cryptic coloration]], "freezing", and rapid, irregular jumping patterns.<ref name="ADW" />

''Sylvilagus aquaticus'' is susceptible to [[parasitism]] from various [[roundworms]] in the genus ''[[Brugia]]'', specifically ''B.&nbsp;lepori'', which is [[Endemism|endemic]] to Louisiana.<ref name="Evans-2024" /> The roundworms live in the subcutaneous and lymphatic tissue of the rabbit. ''B.&nbsp;lepori'' is also known to affect the eastern cottontail,<ref name="Eberhard-1984" /> and is suspected as an agent of human ''Brugia'' infections in the northeastern United States.<ref name="Eberhard-1991" /> ''S.&nbsp;aquaticus'' is also affected by other internal parasites, including [[Trematoda|trematodes]] and [[Cestoda|cestodes]], as well as the parasitic tick ''[[Haemaphysalis leporispalustris]]''.<ref name="Chapman-1981" /> It is known to contract [[tularemia]]<ref name="Nielsen-2018" /> and [[leptospirosis]], though the latter disease is not considered to have a major impact on mortality.<ref name="Shotts-1971" />