Springhare
The springhare (genus Pedetes) is a hopping African rodent. The genus has two species: the South African springhare (P. capensis) of southern Africa, and the East African springhare (P. surdaster) of Kenya and Tanzania. Miombo woodland separates their ranges.[1]
Description
A springhare stands upright on its hind legs, which are much larger than its forelegs. It has long, hare-like ears and a bushy tail.[1] Most adults weigh 2.5–3.5 kg. Among African rodents, only porcupines and cane rats are larger.[1] The South African springhare has a tail with a black or dark brown brush at the tip. Its ears can close off to keep sand out while it digs.[2]
Habitat and behaviour
Springhares live in dry savanna with deep sandy soil and short grass.[1][2] They are active at night.[1] A study in the Kalahari of Botswana found that springhares there were active only at night, and that they used open pans much more than other kinds of ground.[3] They Springhares dig burrows about 0.8 m deep, but use each one for only a few days before moving to another.[1][2] They eat grasses, corms and tubers.[1]
Breeding
Springhares breed slowly. A female usually has a single young after a pregnancy of about 80 days.[1][2]
Classification
The springhares form the family Pedetidae. Their closest relatives are the scaly-tailed squirrels (Anomaluridae). The earliest known Pedetes fossils, from South Africa, are about 2 million years old.[1]
Status
Both springhares are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.[4][5]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Monadjem, Ara; Taylor, Peter J.; Denys, Christiane; Cotterill, Fenton P. D. (2015). Rodents of Sub-Saharan Africa: A Biogeographic and Taxonomic Synthesis. De Gruyter. Section: Pedetidae. ISBN 9783110389234.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Jackson, A. (2000). "Pedetes capensis". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- ↑ Butynski, T. M. (1984). "Nocturnal ecology of the springhare, Pedetes capensis, in Botswana". African Journal of Ecology. 22 (1): 7–22. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.1984.tb00669.x.
- ↑ Child, M.F. (2016). "Pedetes capensis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T16467A22240444.en. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- ↑ Butynski, T.M.; De Jong, Y. (2016). "Pedetes surdaster". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T136621A22240559.en. Retrieved 2 November 2026.