Desert Cottontail

-The desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) is a New World rabbit that lives in a variety of habitats, including grasslands and cactus deserts
-Herbivores that eat almost exclusively grass, but will also eat some fruits, nuts, and vegetables
-More active at night to avoid overheating in the desert
-Their light color helps minimize the absorption of solar heat, and their large ears help radiate body heat into the air
-Their round tail is dark on top with a white underside, resembling a cotton ball
-Desert cottontails are tolerant of other individuals in their vicinity and do not form social burrow systems
-They leave the nest when they are two weeks old, stay with their mother for another three weeks, and are ready to mate when they are about three months old
-Females usually have two to four litters a year, but some may have as many as six