Springhare
Pedetes capensis
Silhouette: Margot Michaud · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilyPedetidae (Springhares)
- GenusPedetes (Springhares)
- SpeciesPedetes capensis (Springhare)
About the 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.
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.
The springhare was named in English by William John Burchell in 1822, who derived "springhare" from the Afrikaans name springhaas. The generic name Pedetes comes from the Greek Πηδητές (Pidités), meaning "leaper or dancer". The specific name capensis, a Latin word meaning "of the Cape", refers to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Province, the species' type locality.
Originally named as Yerbua capensis by Johann Reinhold Forster in 1778, using a genus that was applied to kangaroos in the previous... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Springhare in Addo Elephant National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Addo Elephant National Park
Cape Four-striped Grass Mouse
Rhabdomys pumilio
Cape Porcupine
Hystrix africaeaustralis
Bush Vlei Rat
Myotomys unisulcatus
vlei rat
Otomys irroratus
Common Mole Rat
Cryptomys hottentotus
Pygmy Mouse
Mus minutoides
Pouched Mouse
Saccostomus campestris
Woodland Dormouse
Graphiurus murinus
Cape Mole Rat
Georychus capensis
Kreb's fat mouse
Steatomys krebsii
Namaqua Rock Rat
Micaelamys namaquensis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hwange National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 2 | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 5 | Waterberg Plateau Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 6 | Moremi Game Reserve | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 7 | Chobe National Park | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 8 | Etosha National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Springhare in Addo Elephant National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Springhare sighting in Addo Elephant National Park, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Springhare in Addo Elephant National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Springhare in Addo Elephant National Park in our monthly data.