[1] Sylvilagus graysoni was first identified by Joel Asaph Allen in 1877, who described the type locality of the species as the "Tres Marias Islands, Nayarit, Mexico".

[4] It is very similar morphologically[3] and closely related to the Mexican cottontail (S. cunicularius), which resides on mainland Mexico.

[4] Sylvilagus graysoni is endemic to the Islas Marías, part of the Mexican state of Nayarit.

[4] Due to its isolation, Sylvilagus graysoni does not fear humans as do species on the mainland.

[4] The rabbit only has three predators: the Tres Marias raccoon (Procyon lotor insularis), a subspecies of the common raccoon, and two birds of prey, the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) and the crested caracara (Caracara plancus).