Cape hare
A species of Hares and jackrabbits, Also known as Brown hare Scientific name : Lepus capensis Genus : Hares and jackrabbits
Cape hare, A species of Hares and jackrabbits
Also known as:
Brown hare
Scientific name: Lepus capensis
Genus: Hares and jackrabbits
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Shah Jahan , used under CC-BY-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
The fur of the Cape rabbit is colored gray-brown on the top and has black speckles, the underside is whitish. The top of the bushy tail is black, the bottom also white. The long ears have a black tip. The ears and the black and white tail are very noticeable when the Cape hare is fleeing. At 50 to 55 centimeters in length and weighing between 1.5 and 2.5 kilograms, it is smaller than the European brown hare.
General Info
Lifespan
5-12 years
Diet
Cape hare primarily feeds on plant-based materials. Their diet chiefly consists of grasses; however, in lean times, they supplement this with leaves, twigs, and also consume root vegetables. Their foraging behavior is largely nocturnal, maintaining digestion with high fiber intake.
Appearance
Cape hare typically measures 40-75 cm in length with a stout body and long, powerful hind legs. It is covered with fur that notably varies in color from sandy brown to reddish or grey, with a paler underbelly. A distinctive black patch is found on the top of the short tail. Both sexes appear similar, and there are no pronounced changes in appearance with age.
Behavior
Cape hare is nocturnal, predominantly solitary, and renowned for its high-speed bounding locomotion (up to 56 km/h). Foraging mainly at night, it subsists on grasses, herbs, and occasionally woody plants. Aggressively territorial, certain males mark invaded territories with fecal deposits. Adept at camouflaging, cape hare evades predators by lying flat against the ground when threatened.
Population
Decreasing
Photo By Shah Jahan , used under CC-BY-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Mammals Order
Pikas Family
Rabbits and hares Genus
Hares and jackrabbits Species
Cape hare