Cottontail rabbits live in America. They are any of several North, Central and South American rabbit species of the genus Sylvilagus.

Description 
Most cottontail rabbits of the genus have a short tail with a white underside that shows when they are running away. This gives them their name, "cottontails." However, this feature is not present in all cottontails. Some can be different.

The cottontail rabbit lives most across North America, Central America, and South America. Most species live in nests called forms.

Cottontail rabbits do not get the disease myxomatosis as easily as European rabbits.

Species

 Genus Sylvilagus 
 Subgenus Tapeti
 Swamp Rabbit, Sylvilagus aquaticus
 Tapeti, Sylvilagus brasiliensis
 Dice's Cottontail, Sylvilagus dicei
 Omilteme Cottontail, Sylvilagus insonus
 Marsh Rabbit, Sylvilagus palustris
Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit, Sylvilagus palustris hefneri (named after Hugh Hefner)
Upper Keys Marsh Rabbit, Sylvilagus palustris paludicola
 Marsh Rabbit, Sylvilagus palustris palustris
 Venezuelan Lowland Rabbit, Sylvilagus varynaensis
 Subgenus Sylvilagus
 Desert Cottontail, Sylvilagus audubonii
 Manzano Mountain Cottontail, Sylvilagus cognatus
 Mexican Cottontail, Sylvilagus cunicularius
Sylvilagus cunicularius cunicularius
Sylvilagus cunicularius insolitus
Sylvilagus cunicularius pacificus
 Eastern Cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus
Sylvilagus floridanus alacer
Sylvilagus floridanus ammophilus
Sylvilagus floridanus avius
Sylvilagus floridanus aztecus
Sylvilagus floridanus chapmani
Sylvilagus floridanus chiapensis
Sylvilagus floridanus cognatus
Sylvilagus floridanus connectens
Sylvilagus floridanus continentis
Sylvilagus floridanus costaricensis
Sylvilagus floridanus cumanicus
Sylvilagus floridanus floridanus
Sylvilagus floridanus hesperius
Sylvilagus floridanus hitchensi
Sylvilagus flordanus holzneri
Sylvilagus floridanus hondurensis
Sylvilagus floridanus llanensis
Sylvilagus floridanus mallurus
Sylvilagus floridanus margaritae
Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsi
Sylvilagus floridanus nelsoni
Sylvilagus floridanus nigronuchalis
Sylvilagus floridanus orinoci
Sylvilagus floridanus orizabae
Sylvilagus floridanus paulsoni
Sylvilagus floridanus purgatus
Sylvilagus floridanus restrictus
Sylvilagus floridanus russatus
Sylvilagus floridanus similis
Sylvilagus floridanus subcinctus
Sylvilagus floridanus superciliaris
Sylvilagus floridanus valenciae
Sylvilagus floridanus yucatanicus
 Tres Marias Rabbit, Sylvilagus graysoni
Sylvilagus graysoni graysoni
Sylvilagus graysoni badistes
 Mountain Cottontail, Sylvilagus nuttallii
Sylvilagus nuttallii nuttallii
Sylvilagus nuttallii pinetis
Sylvilagus nuttallii grangeri
 Appalachian Cottontail or rarely Allegheny Cottontail, Sylvilagus obscurus 
 Robust Cottontail, Sylvilagus robustus
 New England Cottontail, Sylvilagus transitionalis
 Subgenus Microlagus
 Brush Rabbit, Sylvilagus bachmani
Sylvilagus bachmani bachmani
Sylvilagus bachmani cinerascens
Sylvilagus bachmani peninsularis
Sylvilagus bachmani cerrosensis
Sylvilagus bachmani ubericolor
Sylvilagus bachmani exiguus
Sylvilagus bachmani mariposae
Sylvilagus bachmani virgulti
Sylvilagus bachmani howelli
Sylvilagus bachmani macrorhinus
Sylvilagus bachmani riparius
Sylvilagus bachmani tehamae
Sylvilagus bachmani rosaphagus
 San Jose Brush Rabbit, Sylvilagus mansuetus

References

Lagomorphs
Mammals of North America
Mammals of South America