South African springhare

The South African springhare (Pedetes capensis) (Afrikaans: springhaas) is a medium-sized terrestrial and burrowing rodent. Despite the name, it is not a hare. It is one of two extant species in the genus Pedetes, and is native to southern Africa. Formerly, the genus was considered monotypic and the East African springhare (P. surdaster) was included in P. capensis.

South African springhare
Temporal range: Calabrian to present
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Pedetidae
Genus: Pedetes
Species:
P. capensis
Binomial name
Pedetes capensis
(Forster, 1778)
South African springhare range.
Synonyms
  • Yerbua capensis
  • Pedetes albaniensis
  • Pedetes angolae
  • Pedetes cafer
  • Pedetes damarensis
  • Pedetes fouriei
  • Pedetes orangiae
  • Pedetes salinae
  • Pedetes typicus

Springhares live throughout semi-arid areas in southern Africa, preferentially in sandy plains and pans with short grasses. In agricultural areas, springhares can be considered a pest due to their destructive feeding on crops. However, they are not currently considered under an impending risk of extinction.

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