Gabb's Cottontail

Gabb's Cottontail

Sylvilagus gabbi

Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Tenorio Volcano National Park

In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%

6 Verified sightings at Tenorio Volcano National Park From 2019 to 2026
89 In all 5 parks
June Best month
🌙 Nocturnal When it's spotted

About the Gabb's Cottontail

The Central American tapeti (Sylvilagus gabbi) or Gabb's cottontail is a species of cottontail rabbit native to southern Mexico and much of Central America. It was previously considered a subspecies of the common tapeti (Sylvilagus brasiliensis) but analysis in 2017 confirmed that it is sufficiently distinct in both appearance and genetics to be considered a species in its own right. It is closely related to the northern tapeti, which some authors describe as a subspecies of S. gabbi. The name Gabbi's cottontail comes from American paleontologist William More Gabb.

There are six subspecies of the Central American tapeti. The rest of the Central American tapeti subspecies are less common: S. g. messorius, found at altitudes up to 550 metres (1,800 ft), lives in the Darién Gap and possibly Colombia Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
2 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
3 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
4 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
5 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%

Closest Relatives at Tenorio Volcano National Park

No species of the same family or order lives in Tenorio Volcano National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other mammals.

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Gabb's Cottontail in Tenorio Volcano National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Gabb's Cottontail sighting in Tenorio Volcano National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 14th most-seen of the 17 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Gabb's Cottontail in Tenorio Volcano National Park?

June and September

In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Gabb's Cottontail in Tenorio Volcano National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January–April, July and October–November, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Gabb's Cottontail?

Between 7 and 10 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Gabb's Cottontail sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.

Is Tenorio Volcano National Park the best place to see a Gabb's Cottontail?

2nd of 5

Of the 5 parks where we can rate Gabb's Cottontail sightings, Tenorio Volcano National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%. The best odds are in Braulio Carrillo National Park (Costa Rica, about 20%).

Where does the Gabb's Cottontail sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Gabb's Cottontail is recorded against all the mammals logged in Tenorio Volcano National Park (6 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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