Scrub Hare (Lepus saxatilis)
 Description: A greyish, buffy hare with
white to pinkish-white underparts and fine black speckles on its
dorsum. The nape of the neck has an orange to buffy patch and the tail
is black on top and white underneath. The ears are very large,
especially populations in the southwestern Cape. The hind feet are very
large and haired between the toe pads. Skull morphology indicates that
the Scrub hare incisors are wider than in the Cape hare.
Size: Total length
is 40-60cm, weight from 1.5-4.5kg, ear length approx 14cm. Females are
larger than males.
Habitat: The Scrub
hare inhabits Savanna woodland and scrubland, rarely
frequenting open grassland.
Behavior: Like most
hares, the Scrub hare is nocturnal and spends most of the day resting
under bushes. They are mainly solitary but will forage in groups. When
a Scrub hare detects a predator, it runs off quickly flashing the white
underneath of its tail. If being pursued by a predator, hares run for
long distances right in front of the predator and then dodge off to the
side quickly.
Diet: Their diet
consists primarily of grass, usually new growth.
Predators:
Mammalian and avian carnivores will prey on Scrub hares. The young are
primarily taken by African wild cat and Black-backed jackal.
Reproduction:
Females give birth around 42 days of gestation to two or three young.
Breeding occurs at any time of the year but peaks during the summer
months.
At Wildcliff: Seen
crossing main roads at the reserve such as Fynbos road, as well as
grazing in some meadows.
|
