Lepus saxatilis F. Cuvier 1823
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 saxatilis

description: 36.
Scrub Hare
Lepus saxatilis
French: Lievre des buissons / German: Buschhase / Spanish: Liebre de matorral
Other common names: Savanna Hare
Taxonomy. Lepus saxatilis F. Cuvier, 1823,
“il habite les contrées qui se trouvent a trois journées au nord du cap de Bonne-Espérance [= Cape of Good Hope],” South Africa.
Taxonomic relationship of L. saxatilis to L. victoriae is unclear. Conventionally, they are considered to be allopatric; L. saxatilis represents the larger southern African form and L. victoriae the smaller northern African form. Nevertheless, others consider L. victoriae and L. saxatilis a single species or even both species included in L. nigricollis as subspecies. A study of mtDNA identified three phylogeographic distributional lineages of L. saxatilis: south-western (Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces), central (Eastern Cape and parts of Free State and KwaZulu-Natal provinces), and northern (northern South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe). Northern boundary of the distribution is uncertain because it is difficult to distinguish between L. saxatilis and sympatric L. capensisin the field. South-western lineage is unique, and it has lacked gene flow with the other two lineages for more than 45,000 years. Therefore,it has been suggested that the south-western lineage may be elevated to species level. None of the subspecies designated forthis species were supported as evolutionarily meaningful units by the mtDNA data analysis and they seem to represent color pattern classes that are more related to ecological habitat than to evolutionary processes. Hence, none ofthe described subspeciesis recognized here and thusit is considered monotypic.
Distribution. S Namibia, most of South Africa (except the N), Swaziland, and Lesotho; N boundary is uncertain, and it may reach S Botswana and S & SW Zimbabwe.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 450-630 mm,tail 70-122 mm, ear 100-150 mm, hindfoot 99-128 mm; weight 1.4-3.5 kg. The Scrub Hare is medium to large, with long and broad ears. Fur is soft. Dorsal and head are dark buffy brown, grizzled with black. Flanks are pale, and ventral fur is white. Gray or buff eye rings extend to nasal region. Eartips have narrow black bands on inner and outer surfaces. Nuchal patch is large and rufous and extends under ears to base of head. Forelimbs and hindlimbs are brownish above and white below. Tail is medium to long and black above and white below. Geographical cline in size is noticeable in the Scrub Hare;size decreases from south-west to north-east.
Habitat. Open grassland, thornveld (grassland characterized by thorny plants), roadside verges, rocky and stony habitats, open sand-plain, bushveld (subtropical woodland), and forest. The Scrub Hare seems to be attracted to cultivated areas and gardens. Its forms are located in grass or under a brush.
Food and Feeding. Scrub Hareseat grass leaves, rhizomes, and stems and prefer green grass.
Breeding. Female Scrub Hares in Botswana were pregnant in all months of the year except September, with reproductive peak during warmer months (October—February). Pregnant females have been recorded in August, October, December, June, and July in South Africa, and newly born young have been reported in May, October, and November. Litters have 1-4 young, with an average of 3-5 in KwaZulu-Natal, whereas they ranged 1-3 young and averaged 1-6 in Zimbabwe. Increased breeding success probably is related to higher annual rainfall and nutritional content of grasses available for grazing in KwaZulu-Natal. The Scrub Hare probably has two litters per year. Peak breeding in KwaZulu-Natal occurs in September—February.
Activity patterns. The Scrub Hare is nocturnal. It becomes active at dusk and feeds throughout the night. A Scrub Hare lies alone in a form during the day, but another individual is often close.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home range of the Scrub Hare is variable and depends on habitat type and season. Theylive alone, occasionally in pairs.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Scrub Hare is widespread and common throughout its distribution. Nevertheless,its population trend has been declining and is expected to continue to decline by at least 20% during the next 100 years. Threats are habitat fragmentation resulting from agriculture, commercial plantations, and human development. Overharvesting has reduced population sizes especially in KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa.
Bibliography. Collins et al. (2008), Flux & Angermann (1990), Happold (2013c), Hoffmann & Smith (2005), Kryger, Keith et al. (2004), Kryger, Robinson & Bloomer (2004), Monadjem (1998), Shortridge (1934a), Smithers (1971, 1983), Taylor (1998).
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 130-131, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6625539