Sylvilagus (Sylvilagus) obscurus Chapman et al. 1992

Sylvilagus (Sylvilagus) obscurus Chapman et al. 1992, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 105 (4): 858.

Type Locality: "Dolly Sods Scenic Area, Grant Co. West Virginia." .

Vernacular Names: Appalachian Cottontail.

Distribution: N Pennsylvania south and west along the Appalachian Mtns to N Alabama.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Subgenus Sylvilagus . Ruedas (1986), and Ruedas et al. (1989) were the first to compare chromosomes of S. transitionalis (see below) and to discover the existence of two cytotypes, 2n= 52 in the N Appalachians ( transitionalis proper), and 2n= 46 in the S Appalachians; the latter was eventually named obscurus (Chapman et al., 1992) .