Hewitt's Red Rock Hare
Pronolagus saundersiae
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderLagomorpha (Lagomorphs)
- FamilyLeporidae (Hares and Rabbits)
- GenusPronolagus (Red Rockhares)
- SpeciesPronolagus saundersiae (Hewitt's Red Rock Hare)
About the Hewitt's Red Rock Hare
Hewitt's red rock hare (Pronolagus saundersiae) is a species of rabbit in the family Leporidae found in South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho. It is a medium-sized, densely furred rufous and brown rabbit that behaves similarly to other red rock hares, with a preference for higher elevated rocky habitats. Previously classified as a subspecies of Smith's red rock hare (Pronolagus rupestris), it is now regarded as its own species.
Like other red rock hares, P. saundersiae is nocturnal, and is presumed to feed on grasses, herbs, and shrubs. Its breeding patterns are also presumed to be similar to those of other red rock hares, with females producing three to four litters of altricial young each warm season. The species is predated upon by Verreaux's eagle, Cape eagle-owls, and leopards. It is considered a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is said to be "abundant" throughout its range, despite not being protected by any specific conservation measures. As a result of habitat loss caused by humans, the global population is expected to decrease.
The Hewitt's red rock hare was named by John Hewitt (1880–1961), the director of... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Gate Highlands National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |