The upperparts vary from reddish to grayish brown sprinkled with black; when fluffed, the fur of the rump is grayish. Sometimes when they see enemy they try to act like they are freezing, it shows others like they are dead. (Almost) 360-degree vision Eastern cottontails have eyes that protrude a bit from their heads, giving them almost 360-degree vision. From suburban yards to farm hedgerows to forest edges, cottontails are a common sight. After sorting the Animal Adaptation Cards, debrief with the students the information learned from the activity. The eastern cottontail is a medium-sized rabbit with long ears, large hind legs, shorter front legs, a short fluffy tail, and soft fur. Comparing Adaptations of two animals--Snowshoe Rabbit and Cottontail Rabbit The rabbit's long ears have a unique outer shape called pinna, which enables them to detect faint sounds directly and accurately. Pennsylvania's cottontail rabbit population was relatively small prior to European settlement, when forests covered much of the state. Eastern cottontail rabbit's adaptations are:big earssharp sense of smell and hearingcan run as fast as 20mphA taste for vegetation The eastern cottontail rabbit is one of the most common mammals of both the natural and the human generated ecosystems of North America. Cottontail rabbits can run up to 18 miles per hour for a half mile, and they run in a zig-zag pattern to confuse predators. What are the adaptations of an Eastern Cottontail rabbit? Students write a reflection paragraph on the concepts understood from the activity. However, the average lifespan of rabbits is no longer than 7 years and cottontails lives on average about 2 years. 2. The eastern cottontail rabbit doesn't dig its own burrows like some other rabbit species do, so they will either find an empty burrow from another animal to crawl into or they will look for woody vegetation to huddle under during cold weather. In the U.S., it is found in most of the Eastern U.S. and in parts of New Mexico and Arizona. Eastern cottontail rabbits reside throughout the eastern United States and parts of Canada and Mexico. It sports a white or light brown spot on the forehead. It is especially abundant in habitats that contain edges of open, grassy fields and thorny or shrubby cover. Not so for the eastern cottontail. Males and females are generally the same size and color. Cottontail rabbits play important roles in their ecosystems. Rabbits have many different adaptation skills that allow them to fit well into their environment. The eastern cottontail differs only slightly, with a paler coat, a cinnamon-rust nape, and a narrow black margin extending along the front edge and tip of the ear. From suburban yards to farm hedgerows to forest edges, cottontails are a common sight. The back of the neck is bright rust-colored. to survive. The cottontail bunny is a midsize rabbit and a herbivore, and female cottontails average three to four litters per year. The hair on the upper part of the body is a dense, buff-brown underfur covered by longer, coarser, gray- and black-tipped guard hairs. Habitat The eastern cottontail prefers habitats that are between woody areas and open land. It can be found in bushy areas, fields, woodlands, swamps and thickets. Animal (Adaptation Cards and answers are attached.) Wild cottontails have a life expectancy of less than two years. B. A popular small game species, they also appeal to nonhunters. They can sense their predator from a long distance by standing on hind leg. 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