Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Lower Keys Marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The Lower Keys Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) is a subspecies of the marsh rabbit (S. palustris), a species widespread in the southeastern United States. The Lower Keys rabbit is distinguished from the adjacent subspecies, S.p. paludicola, in skull proportions and sculpturing and in its darker coloration (Lazell 1984). The Lower Keys rabbit is about 16 inches in length, with brownish dorsal and greyish ventral fur.

Lead Region:  Southeast Region (Region 4)
Date Listed: Jun 21, 1990

  • States/US Territories in which the Lower Keys Marsh rabbit is known to occur:  Florida
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Lower Keys Marsh rabbit is known to occur:  NATIONAL KEY DEER REFUGE

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 11 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
03/26/2007 72 FR 14132 14133 Notice of Availability of a Final Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
09/27/2006 71 FR 56545 56547 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of 37 Southeastern Species
04/02/2004 69 FR 17442 17443 Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
06/21/1990 55 FR 25588 25591 ETWP; Endangered Status for the Lower Keys Rabbit and Threatened Status for the Squirrel Chimney Cave Shrimp; 55 FR 25588 25591
04/25/1990 55 FR 17475 17476 ETWP; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions and Findings on Recycled Petitions; 55 FR 17475 17476

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
05/18/1999 South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan (68 spp.) View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 3 of 3 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
03/26/2007 72 FR 14132 14133 Notice of Availability of a Final Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
  • Notice Recovery Plan Avail.
    • 09/27/2006 71 FR 56545 56547 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of 37 Southeastern Species
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • 04/02/2004 69 FR 17442 17443 Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
  • Notice Draft Recovery Plan Availability
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    09/21/2007 Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit 5-Year Review

    » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Lower Keys Marsh rabbit.

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1 )
    HCP Plan Summaries
    Big Pine Key Deer

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 3 of 3 )
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    08/19/1988 53 FR 31723 31725 Notice of Findings on Petitions to List Louisiana Black Bear, Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit, & Sherman's Fox Squirrel; 53 FR 31723-31725
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted but precluded
    • 08/20/1986 51 FR 29671 29673 Findings on Petitions & Initiation of Status Reviews; 51 FR 29671-29673
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted but precluded
    • 08/30/1985 50 FR 35272 35273 Notice of Findings on 2 Petitions & Review of 2 Species; 50 FR 35272- 35273
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 22, 2009