#springhaas

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Voting ended onMar 1

By Markus Lilje, CC-BY-NC-ND

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this is me btw. if u even care

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I realized I had an old folder full of sticker designs I never used, so posted them to redbubble! Added some rat ones.

Had an old batch of sticker designs laying around from years ago I never got around to upload.

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The springhare or springhaas is a rodent native to southern Africa. There are two living species, the South African springhare and the East African springhare. They are nocturnal and mostly herbivorous, although they will sometimes eat insects. Their well-developed hind legs allow them to jump as far as two meters in a single bound.

Photo credit: 1-2: Bernard DUPONT, Hans De Bisschop, Giant Eland

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sketch comm for @thatonecripplekid

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Springhaas Baby Luckdragon

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Springhare

The South African springhare (Pedetes capensis), or springhaas in Afrikaans, is not actually a hare, but a rodent. It is one of two living species in the genus Pedetes, and is native to southern Africa. The East African springhare (Pedetes surdaster) was recognised by Matthee and Robinson in 1997 as a species distinct from the southern African springhare (P. capensis) based on genetic, morphological, and ethological differences. P. capensis from South Africa has fewer chromosomes (2n= 38) than does P. surdaster which has (2n = 40) and some other genetic variations. The East African springhare is found in central and southern Kenya and most of Tanzania.

These rodents are generally nocturnal and sleep through the day in burrows they dig. They feed on foliage, roots and other vegetable matter, and occasionally arthropods. Outside the burrow they usually move around by hopping on their hind legs.

The East African springhare resembles a small kangaroo and is about the size of a rabbit. It is mid-brown, has large erect ears, very short fore legs, and long powerful hind legs. It moves in bounds of up to 2 m (6.5 ft) and has a long tail fringed with black hairs which provides balance. It can sit up on its haunches like a squirrel. They have four toes on their hind feet with claws that look like small hooves; these are wider than those found on the fore feet. 

Springhares breed throughout the year. The females give birth to a single young about three times a year. Unlike some other rodents, which have blind and hairless young, springhares are born furred, and are active within a very short time of birth. However, they are not weaned and do not leave the burrow until they are about half grown. This extended period of parental care helps to mitigate a birthrate that is, among rodents, remarkably low.

When only one springhare species was recognized, it was listed as vulnerable by the IUCN in 1996 due to an approximately 20% decrease in the population over the previous ten years. This has been caused by intense hunting and the loss of habitat. However, the negative trend has not persisted, and both species are now listed as Species of Least Concern.