Jack-Booted Cottontail

The jack-booted cottontail is Ankuran's national animal and was once a significant source of income and livelihood. Bred for its meat and its wool, the jack-booted cottontail is a an even-tempered rabbit distinguished by its large size, fluffy coat, and characteristic black socks on all four legs. While jack-booted cottontails are still commonly bred for fur and meat, they are more likely to be found as common house pets and competition animals.

Jack-booted cottontails weigh between fifteen and twenty pounds, with the largest on record weighing over thirty pounds and nearing three feet in length; jack-booted cottontails have no ideal weight and size maximums, and may grow as large as their genetics allow, with does often larger than bucks. Their ears are long and lopped and may reach up to twenty-one inches. Their bodies are semi-arched, with thick foot pads, short necks, broad shoulders and hindquarters, and pronounced dewlaps (on does). Their name comes from their large, round tails, which are characteristically white; jack-booted cottontails are more closely related to giant chinchilla rabbits than cottontails.

The jack-booted cottontail's fur is remarkable for its softness, length, density, gloss, and rate of growth. There are forty-seven recognized fur patterns of jack-booted cottontail, ranging from solid white to marbled black-and-orange. The black sock markings are a recessive trait and are often lost if the rabbit is bred with other breeds of rabbit.

Domestic and commercial jack-booted cottontails are even-tempered, sociable, and easy to handle. They require significant living space due to their size, but are docile enough to live with small children and other domestic animals such as dogs, cats, and even domesticated foxes. Jack-booted cottontails spend much of their time lazing or clamoring for attention, but are prone to bursts of vigorous activity, particularly around dawn.