Peter Cottontail

Peter Cottontail is a popular name for the Easter Bunny. The name is actually a combination of the names of Cottontail and Peter Rabbit in the book The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter.

A children's television special called Here Comes Peter Cottontail aired on ABC in 1971. It was created by Rankin-Bass, the makers of the popular claymation Christmas specials. The show starred Casey Kasem, Danny Kaye, and Vincent Price. A sequel was released directly to video in 2006.

Fast Facts:

1. Cottontail rabbits are members of the Sylvilagus genus, found in the Americas
2. 16 species of cottontail rabbits
3. Name comes from a common feature of white on the underside of the tail that shows when retreating
4. Not all species have white on underside of tail
5. Brush Rabbit's tail is gray on the underside
6. Cottontail rabbits the only rabbits that do not live in burrows
7. Rabbits born hairless, blind, and helpless
8. Hares born fully-furred and seeing
9. Hares live in nests above-ground
10. Hares are larger than rabbits and have longer ears
11. Rabbits are domesticated, while hares are not

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