Springhare
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| Springhare
<tr><td align="center"> Missing image Springhaas.jpg Springhare specimen at Field Museum of Natural History,Chicago | ||||||||||||||
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| Pedetes capensis (Coe, 1969) |
The Springhare, or Springhaas (Pedetes capensis) is not actually a hare, but a member of the order Rodentia; it is the only species in its family Pedetidae. Synonyms are P. caffer or P. cafer.
The springhare resembles a small kangaroo (although the two are clearly unrelated) with well-developed hind legs, which allows it to leap over 2 meters in a single bound. It is for this ability which it gets its name. This animal grows to be around 35-45 cms in length excluding its long tail, and weighs an average of 3 kg. The tail adds to another 36-47 cms in length. The colour of this mammal varies from a reddish-brown to a pale grey, with a black tip on the tail. The Springhare lives only in south-eastern Africa, feeding on plant matter and even occasionally insects.
External links
- Further information (http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pedetes_capensis.html)
- Image (http://public.srce.hr/XIIIgim/pictures/rodents/springhare.jpg)
