Geographic Range
Lepus saxatilis
is native to the continent of Africa, and there have been no reported attempts to
introduce it into other areas. It is primarily found throughout Southern Africa and
Namibia, with the exception of the Namib Desert.
L. saxatilis
has also been found in other African locations, including Nigeria extending westward
to Southwest Mauritana and Senegal, Southeast Ethiopia, Uganda, most of Kenya, Angola,
Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. All of these African countries fall within the Ethiopian
Biogeographic Range.
Habitat
L. saxatilis
is found at elevations of 1220 to 1830 m above sea level. The species is primarily
found in the savanna woodland and scrub areas of Africa. It is usually not found
in forests, deserts, or grasslands. However it occasionally can be found foraging
at night in the open grasslands.
L.saxatilis
is also successful in agriculturally developed areas where it positions itself near
growing crops, or in areas of bush regeneration.
L. saxatilis
is found throughout the regions of South Africa and Namibia. Here there is both
a tropical climate (Namibia) and a sub-tropical climate stretching between 22 to 34
degrees southern latitude (South Africa).
- Habitat Regions
- temperate
- tropical
- terrestrial
- Terrestrial Biomes
- savanna or grassland
- chaparral
- scrub forest
- Other Habitat Features
- agricultural
Physical Description
L. saxatilis
can be identified by its complex fur coloration pattern. Its dorsal fur is grizzled
gray and often has tiny black spots, while its ventral fur is white. It has a multicolored
tail that is black on top and white underneath. It has lighter fur on the sides of
its face and around its eyes. Many have a white patch of fur on their forehead.
L. saxatilis
also has a patch of reddish-brown fur behind its ears. All of its body hair has
a soft texture.
L. saxatilis
exhibits a large range in both its body size and mass. Length ranges from 45 cm
to 65 cm, and mass ranges from 1500 g to 4500 g. This range in body size follows
a geographic pattern, such that there is a decrease in body size when moving from
the North to the South of its range. This same geographic pattern can be observed
with ear length. In any particular area, females typically have a larger body length
and mass than do males.
L. saxatilis
has long ears. Furthermore, its hind legs are much longer than its forelegs, and
its hind feet have a lighter fur color than its forefeet. All of its feet are heavily
furred.
- Other Physical Features
- endothermic
- homoiothermic
- bilateral symmetry
- Sexual Dimorphism
- female larger
Reproduction
This species is apparently polygynous.
L. saxatilis
is normally solitary. However, when a female is experiencing oestrus, multiple males
will often remain near her. Little research has been done regarding the interactions
of these males. However, males of other species in the genus
Lepus
engage in competition that often involves boxing with their forefeet and/or kicking
with their hindfeet. Frequently competition between males is so intense that the
female over which they are competing is injured.
- Mating System
- polygynous
L. saxatilis
breeds throughout the year, despite frequent droughts and dry conditions. Its peak-breeding
season is during the African summer (from September to February) when the climate
is warmer and wetter. Fertilization is internal, and the gestation period lasts an
average of 42 days. A female may give birth to 1 to 3 young, with the mean number
being 1.6. Females more frequently give birth to triplets following rainy seasons
rather than dry seasons.
The leverets are born with all of their hair and their eyes open. The average mass
at birth is 115 grams. Shortly after birth, a young
L. saxatilis
will be capable of moving around and providing for itself. There is little parental
care, and it is usually limited to a single suckling period during the night. This
occurs each night until the leverets are weaned, however the number of days it takes
for the leverets to be weaned is not known. No nest is made for the leverets. Although
many leverets will not survive their first year, the ones that do survive will be
sexually mature after this year.
- Key Reproductive Features
- iteroparous
- year-round breeding
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
- fertilization
- viviparous
L. saxatilis
exhibits very low levels of parental investment.
L. saxatilis
gives birth to young that are fully haired, have open eyes, and are developed enough
to take care of themselves shortly after birth. The exact time of independence is
not known. Parents of this species do not provide protection, resources or learning
experiences for their young. They do not even provide the leverets with nests! All
parental care is limited to a short period of suckling during the night. This occurs
each night until the leverets are weaned, however the number of days until weaning
is not known. As far as is known, only females provide parental care in this species.
- Parental Investment
- no parental involvement
- precocial
- female parental care
-
pre-fertilization
-
protecting
- female
-
protecting
-
pre-hatching/birth
-
provisioning
- female
-
protecting
- female
-
provisioning
-
pre-weaning/fledging
-
provisioning
- female
-
provisioning
Lifespan/Longevity
L. saxatilis
frequently does not survive its first year. Although details of its lifespan are
limited, close relatives within the genus
Lepus
have been know to live up to five years in the wild. However, in captivity, members
of the genus have a longer lifespan, which ranges between six years and seven years.
Behavior
L. saxatilis
is solitary except during times of mating. The species is nocturnal and emerges
at sundown to forage. Occasionally, if the sky is overcast, it will forage during
the morning or afternoon. During the day,
L. saxatilis
rests in forms, which are indentations in the ground that it makes with the pressure
of its body. An individual will usually return to the same form for multiple days
unless disturbed, at which point it is forced to create another. Within these forms,
L. saxatilis
is disguised from its predators due to its cryptic coloration, which blends in with
the vegetation and scrub land. By minimizing movement, these animals are much less
likely to be detected by predators.
L. saxatilis
often remains perfectly still in its form. It also keeps its long ears folded back
over its shoulders to avoid identification by predators.
When confronted by a predator,
L. saxatilis
remains motionless in its form. It hesitates until the last possible moment and
then evacuates its form at an incredible rate. It attempts to evade its predator
by following an irregular course at a fast speed.
L. saxatilis
is known to emit a loud vocal squealing sound when captured and/or distressed for
any other reason.
At one point during the day,
L. saxatilis
excretes a Vitamin B-rich pellet and then ingests it. The function of this behavior
is not known.
- Key Behaviors
- cursorial
- terricolous
- saltatorial
- nocturnal
- motile
- solitary
Home Range
Little is known about the home range size of
L. saxatilis
. Closely related members of the genus
Lepus
are known to defend an area of one to two meters surrounding their form. There are,
however, communal feeding areas where these forms approach one another.
Communication and Perception
L. saxatilis
perceives the world through multiple forms of communication. However, since
L. saxatilis
is solitary when not mating, the communication is not used to enforce social hierarchy.
Individuals are vocal and will emit loud squeals in the instance that they are either
wounded or distressed. They also produce a characteristic loud chirping sound if
they are disturbed when they are in an open habitat during the night. Less commonly
it has been noted that members of the genus
Lepus
will use their voice when neither distressed nor wounded.
Other forms of communication are not known for
L. saxatilis
. Close relatives in the genus
Lepus
communicate through the thumping of their feet. This method of communication is
known as drumming. Also all members of the family
Leporidae
, of which
L. saxatilis
is a member, have scent glands that produce characteristic scents used for territory
marking and sexual identification. Just how relevant these latter two forms of communication
are in
L. saxatilis
is not known.
Tactile communication likely occurs in this species between rivals in competition for mates. Males and females share some tactile communication during mating, as do mothers with their young.
- Other Communication Modes
- vibrations
- Perception Channels
- visual
- tactile
- acoustic
- vibrations
- chemical
Food Habits
L. saxatilis
is primarily a folivore. It has a preference for the green grass that grows during
the wetter and cooler climates. However it will also eat the leaves, stems and rhizomes
of grass that grows during dryer climate periods. Members of the genus
Lepus
will occasionally indulge in shrub bark if there is no other food source available.
It is not known how common this is in
L. saxatilis
.
L. saxatilis
is nocturnal, and therefore does the majority of its foraging either during or after
sunset. It has occasionally been seen foraging during the early mornings or afternoons
when the sky is overcast, but this is less frequent.
- Plant Foods
- leaves
- wood, bark, or stems
Predation
L. saxatilis
spends its day in a self-built form and has multiple methods for avoiding detection
by predators. It sits snugly in its form with its ears folded backwards and its head
pulled into its body to prevent detection. It is further camouflaged by its cryptic
coloration. While in its form,
L. saxatilis
remains almost perfectly motionless because any movement may attract the attention
of a nearby predator.
When confronted by a predator,
L. saxatilis
will continue to remain motionless in its form until the last possible moment. At
this point it will rapidly take off. It attempts to lose its predator by moving rapidly
in a zigzag pattern. If the predator catches it, the hare will emit a loud squeal
that is a sign of distress. Once it has been caught, its only defense mechanisms
are to kick with its hind legs or to bite its predator. Side-striped jackals
Canis adustus
are a common predator to
L. saxatilis
in which the above interaction is commonly seen.
L. saxatilis
also suffers from flea and lice infestation. It is not known if it employs any defense
mechanisms against these pests. Primarily the flea infestations are by
Ctenocephalides felis damarensis
which peaks from August to October and has its lowest presence from February to April.
- Anti-predator Adaptations
- cryptic
Ecosystem Roles
L. saxatilis
has multiple roles within the ecosystem. It is responsible for a minimal amount
of soil aeration, as it helps to break up the ground and redistribute the soil when
creating its forms. It influences vegetational growth, and serves as prey for larger
animals.
L. saxatilis
also serves as a host for multiple flea and lice species. The most common of these
species is
Ctenocephalides felis damarensis
whose population peaks from August to October and is at its lowest from February
to April.
- Ecosystem Impact
- soil aeration
- Multiple fleas and lice species with the predominant species being Ctenocephalides felis damarensis
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
L. saxatilis
is not of much economic importance for the human population. However, many human
populations use members of the genus
Lepus
as a food source, and it is likely that local people probably eat these hares occasionally.
Its fur is of minimal value, but it is sometimes used within the lining of various
garments including gloves.
- Positive Impacts
- food
- body parts are source of valuable material
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Although
L. saxatilis
provides no immediate threat to humans, when threatened it will kick with its hind
legs and bite. However this bite is not venomous. Although hot overtly dangerous
to humans,
L. saxatilis
is an agricultural pest. It often inhabits agriculturally developed areas and forages
on the surrounding grass and growing vegetation, sometimes negatively affecting crops.
- Negative Impacts
-
injures humans
- bites or stings
- crop pest
Conservation Status
L. saxatilis is not listed as endangered and its population remains widespread throughout Africa.
Other Comments
L. saxatilis
excretes a hard, disk-shaped pellet following foraging. This can be used to identify
if it has been foraging in a particular area.
Additional Links
Contributors
Nancy Shefferly (editor), Animal Diversity Web.
Aimee Kushnereit (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Phil Myers (editor, instructor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
- Ethiopian
-
living in sub-Saharan Africa (south of 30 degrees north) and Madagascar.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- temperate
-
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
- tropical
-
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.
- terrestrial
-
Living on the ground.
- tropical savanna and grassland
-
A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.
- savanna
-
A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.
- temperate grassland
-
A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.
- chaparral
-
Found in coastal areas between 30 and 40 degrees latitude, in areas with a Mediterranean climate. Vegetation is dominated by stands of dense, spiny shrubs with tough (hard or waxy) evergreen leaves. May be maintained by periodic fire. In South America it includes the scrub ecotone between forest and paramo.
- scrub forest
-
scrub forests develop in areas that experience dry seasons.
- agricultural
-
living in landscapes dominated by human agriculture.
- endothermic
-
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
- polygynous
-
having more than one female as a mate at one time
- iteroparous
-
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).
- year-round breeding
-
breeding takes place throughout the year
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- fertilization
-
union of egg and spermatozoan
- viviparous
-
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.
- young precocial
-
young are relatively well-developed when born
- female parental care
-
parental care is carried out by females
- saltatorial
-
specialized for leaping or bounding locomotion; jumps or hops.
- nocturnal
-
active during the night
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- solitary
-
lives alone
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- acoustic
-
uses sound to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- vibrations
-
movements of a hard surface that are produced by animals as signals to others
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- acoustic
-
uses sound to communicate
- vibrations
-
movements of a hard surface that are produced by animals as signals to others
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- cryptic
-
having markings, coloration, shapes, or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment; being difficult to see or otherwise detect.
- soil aeration
-
digs and breaks up soil so air and water can get in
- food
-
A substance that provides both nutrients and energy to a living thing.
- herbivore
-
An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.
- folivore
-
an animal that mainly eats leaves.
References
Atkinson, R., D. Macdonald, R. Kamizola. 2002. Dietary Opportunism in side-striped jackals Canis adustus Sundevall. Journal of Zoology , 257: 129-139.
Louw, J., I. Horak, L. Braack. 1993. Fleas and Lice on Scrub Hares (Lepus saxatilis) in South Africa. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research , 60(2): 95-101.
Matthews, H. 1971. Life of Mammals . New York City, New York: Universe Books.
Mills, G., L. Hes. 1997. The Complete Book of Southern African Mammals . Cape Town: Struik Publishers.
Nowak, R. 1999. Hares, or Jack Rabbits. Pp. 1733-1738 in Walker's Mammals of the World, Sixth Edition , Vol. 1. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Penzhorn, B., I. Horak, A. Spickett, L. Braack. 1993. Observations On Reproduction And Morphometrics Of Scrub Hares In The Kruger-National Park. South African Journal of Wildlife Research , 23(3): 74-77.
Riga, F., V. Trocchi, E. Randi, S. Toso. 2001. Morphometric Differentiation between the Italian Hares ( Lepus corsicanus De Winton, 1898) and The European Brown Hare ( Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778). Journal of Zoology , 253: 241-252.
Rue, L. 1965. Cottontail . New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company.
Smith, S. 1985. The Atlas of Africa's Principal Mammals . Republic of South Africa: Natural History Books.
Smithers, R. 1983. The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion . Pretoria: University of Pretoria.
Stuart, C., T. Stuart. 1995. Stuart's Field Guide: Mammals of Southern Africa . Cape Town: Struik Publishers Ltd.
2001. Rabbit and Hare Species. Pp. 702-703 in The New Encyclopedia of Mammals , Vol. 1, 1 Edition. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press.
2000. "South Africa" (On-line). Geographia. Accessed February 07, 2004 at http://www.geographia.com/south-africa .