Pedetes capensis
As the headlights pierce the darkness, bouncing blobs of orange red are reflected in the beam of light. A pair, maybe dozens
, of the weird bobbing orbs are usually the first indication that the nocturnal Spring (or Jumping) Hare (which is not a hare at all but a rodent) is on the move foraging for food.
With long, powerful hind feet and legs, stubby front limbs held close to the chest, it looks and behaves rather like a miniature kangaroo. Being strictly nocturnal it's seldom seen by casual observers - a shame because it is an attractive, amusing little creature.
The nominate species is locally distributed in East and southern Africa, with a sub-species found in the arid north-eastern tip of the Horn of Africa. The soft fur is usually a pale rufous brown with whitish underparts; the ears short and pointed and the tail bushy, tipped with black. The hind legs are long and the short and stubby front legs, with claws adapted for digging, are held close to the chest. Body length is about 114 centimetres (45 inches) and the tail 53 cm (21 in.).
For long thought to be silent, Spring Hares utter an occasional grunt and a bleating distress call. They live in burrows, often with an extensive system of tunnels which may be blocked as a defence against predators. They are usually only seen in daylight when flooded out of their burrows after heavy rain. A single young is born underground, where it remains until it can fend for itself. They are preyed upon by eagle owls, pythons, nocturnal carnivores and, inevitably, humans. Although feeding mainly on green vegetation, bulbs and roots they can be destructive to crops, especially maize and groundnuts.
This curious, long-hopping creature is regarded as a symbol of fertility by East Africa's nomadic Maasai. It is believed that should an elderly man with a barren wife catch and kill a Spring Hare in company with a number of young warriors, the wife will bear a live child. If a new-born or suckling child is clothed with the pelt its survival will be assured. |
