Lepus capensis Linnaeus 1758
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Lagomorpha
Leporidae
Lepus
Lepus capensis

description: 40.
Cape Hare
Lepus capensis
French: Lievre du Cap / German: Kaphase / Spanish: Liebre de El Cabo
Other common names: Arabian Hare (Middle East), East African Hare (aegyptius, hawkeri, isabellinus, and sinaiticus), North-west African Hare (atlanticus, mediterraneus, schlumbergeri, and whitakeri), Sardinian Hare (mediterraneus), South African Hare (capensis, aquilo, carpi, and grant)
Taxonomy. Lepus capensis Linnaeus, 1758,
“ad Cap. b. Spei [= Cape of Good Hope],” South Africa.
Taxonomystatus of L. capensis throughout its distribution is unclear. As constructed in the past, a single species (capensis sensu lato) inhabits Africa in two separate southern and northern areas. There is no evidence of gene flow between these two areas, and intervening areas are inhabited by other species of Lepus. Therefore, an informal subdivision of capensis into four groups based on their geographical locations (north-western Africa, Middle East, East Africa, and South Africa) is widely accepted and might represent four distinct species. If this is correct, L. capensis will be restricted to the “South African Hare” group, whereas those in the other three groups will have to be renamed. Nevertheless, formal revision of taxa is not possible due to insufficient data. Subspecies belong in four groups: South Africa (capensis, aquilo, carpi, and grant), East Africa (aegyptius, hawkeri, isabellinus, and sinaiticus), Middle East (arabicus), and north-western Africa (atlanticus, mediterraneus, schlumbergeri, and whitakeri). Taxonomic position of the form mediterraneus (the “Sardinian Hare”) is unresolved. Analysis of the mtCR-1 sequence indicated that mediterraneus forms a monophyletic clade with North African species of Lepus, whereas a phylogenetic analysis of mtCR-1 sequences from Tunisian and Egyptian specimens characterized them as monophyletic and separate from L. capensis. Nevertheless, a study of the nuclear gene pool of L. capensis, L. europaeus, and North African species of Lepus indicated that North African species and L. europaeus belong to L. capensis, supporting a hypothesis to include L. europaeus in L. capensis. In light of this continuing uncertainty regarding taxonomic status of the subspecies mediterraneus and North African species of Lepus, they remain included in L. capensis, and L. europaeus retains its taxonomic status as a distinct species. Moreover, the relationship of L. capensis to L. victoriae is uncertain because in some regions (Kenya and Somalia), specimens appear to have characteristics intermediate between the two species. Furthermore, no morphological characteristics have been found to separate the folai-tibetanus-group from L. capensis. Because of the widespread distribution and interpopulational variation of L. capensis, as many as 38 forms/subspecies have been described. As taxonomists are still trying to clarify the species differentiation in Lepus, the subspecific taxonomy is not elaborated yet. The original descriptions of the subspecies are often not very helpful as they are mostly based on few exterior characteristics and small numbers of individuals. It has been shown that the variability is clinal in more careful investigations. Hence, the distinction in subspecies might be arbitrary and unreasonable. Thirteen subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
L. ¢c. capensis Linnaeus, 1758 — Western Cape Province (South Africa).
L.c.aegyptiusDesmarest,1822—Egypt,Sudan,Palestine.
L.c.aquiloThomas&Wroughton,1907—SMozambique.
L. c. arabicus Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1832 — Middle East, Arabian Peninsula, Iran, SW Pakistan (Baluchistan), and SW Afghanistan.
. ¢. atlanticus de Winton, 1898 — Morocco. ¢. carpi Lundholm, 1955 — NW Namibia. granti Thomas & Schwann, 1904 — Northern Cape Province (South Africa). MDD nop hawker: Thomas, 1901 — W Sudan, Eritrea. isabellinus Cretzschmar, 1826 — Egypt, Sudan,Eritrea. Ean mediterraneus Wagner, 1841 — Sardinia. schlumberger: Remy Saint-Loup, 1894 — NE Morocco. sinaiticus Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1832 — Egypt, Iraq. S whitakeri Thomas, 1902 — Libya, Niger and Algeria.
The Cape Hare occurs in the Mediterranean I of Sardinia and in isolated populations scattered throughout most of the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East and E to W Himalayas. This species has an extensive range in Africa which is separated in two distinct regions. First, in Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, and throughout most of the dry savanna regions of C, W & N Africa, including parts of the Sahara Desert. Second, in savanna and semi-desert regions of Namibia, Botswana, S Zimbabwe, SW Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 450-550 mm,tail 100-145 mm, ear 110-140 mm, hindfoot 110-138 mm; weight 1.7-2.5 kg. The Cape Hare is medium-sized, with soft pelage. Dorsal fur and head are silvery gray, grizzled with black. Ventral pelage is pure white and long. Flanks become pale buff on lower parts. Lateral profile of head is distinctly angular. Eye rings are white, typically with rufous markings above and below them. Upperlips are pale rufous, and chin and throat are white. The Cape Hare typically has buffy white collar. Ears are relatively long, with inner margins fringed with long white hairs. Ear tips are rounded and fringed with short black hairs, especially on outer surfaces. Nuchal patch is brownish pink. Forelimbs are pale rufous above and white below. Hindlimbs are pale rufous. Soles of all feet have buffy brown hairs. Tail is comparatively long, fluffy, black above and laterally, and below white. Cape Hares show large geographical variation in morphological characteristics. Pelage color varies throughout the distribution. Individuals from arid and semiarid habitats are paler in color than those from more moderate habitats. Ears and hindfeet get longer with increasing habitat aridity.
Habitat. Grasslands and open habitats, including Acacia — Brachystegia savanna, Sahel and Sudan savanna, semi-desert, and mountain valleys up to elevations of 2400 m. The Cape Hare is extremely adaptable and lives in many environments. It prefers open-toclosed habitats and avoids bushy habitats. Pastures overgrazed by domestic stock are particularly favored. Cape Hares move into burned areas as soon as grasses begin to sprout. Distribution of the Cape Hare has increased with bush clearing and extensive savanna fires. On the Arabian Peninsula, the Cape Hare prefers shrubs rather than grasses for shelter in summer. In the Namib Desert, it makes short burrows to avoid exposure to the sun.
Food and Feeding. Cape Hares are herbivorous and graze on grasses at night. Diets presumably vary according to habitat. Fecal analysis in Kenya revealed that 19% ofthe diet was dicotyledons, 40% grasses, 1% sedge, and 32% stem fibers. Grasses in the diet included Sporobolus sp., Aristida sp., Chloris sp., Cynodon dactylon, Enneapogon sp., and Eragrostis sp (all Poaceae). The study found differences in proportions of grass species eaten at different sites, but seasonal differences, including wet and dry seasons, were small at each site. The Cape Hare is reasonably opportunistic, selecting different grass species according to their availabilities. It is expanding its distribution at the expense of less adaptable species of Lepus because it thrives on overgrazed pastures.
Breeding. Reproduction of the Cape Hare varies by location. Near the Equator, males are sexually active and females pregnant throughout the year. Pregnancy rates are 80-100% for most of the year, except in April (wettest month of the year) and June/ July (end of wet season). Females have 6-8 litters/year, with a mean littersize of 1-5, or an average of 11-6 young/year. Mean littersize varies seasonally, probably in response to changes in rainfall and forage (one young in September to 1-9 in January). Litter size also varies by elevation; Cape Hares at higher elevations have small litters (mean of 1-2 young at 1800 m) than those at lower elevations (mean of 1-7 young at 600 m).
Activity patterns. Cape Hares are nocturnal. They rest in forms during the day but might feed during the day whenitis overcast.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home ranges of Cape Hares vary depending on habitat type. They mainly live alone and only occasionally in small groups. In Kenya, only four groups of three Cape Hares were seen out of 800 individuals observed.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Cape Hare is widespread and abundant, with a total population greater than 10,000 individuals. In the southern part of its African distribution, a population decline of less than 10% since 1904 has been reported. No population information is available for the northern African region ofits distribution. Population trends of Cape Hares in Arabia are characterized by moderate declines. Current population trends of Cape Hares on islands in the Persian Gulf, specifically Masirah Island and Bahrain, are of concern because it is possible that the form of the Cape Hare living on these islands is a distinct species. The population of the Cape Hare on Sardinia has been declining even though it is characterized as locally common. The Cape Hare has experienced habitat loss on the Arabian Peninsula since the 1950s mainly caused by urbanization, habitat fragmentation, overgrazing, livestock competition, agricultural encroachment, recreational activities, harvest/hunting, and infrastructure development related to tourism. These threats will likely lead to continuing population declines on the Arabian Peninsula. In Africa, a loss of habitat due to agricultural practices and hunting poses the greatest threats to Cape Hares.
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description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Leporidae, pp. 107-148 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on pages 132-133, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6625539