East African springhare

East African springhare
In Mbwea Safari Camp, Nakuru, Kenya
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Pedetidae
Genus:	Pedetes
Species:	P. surdaster
Binomial name
Pedetes surdaster (Thomas, 1902)
Synonyms
P.currax - Hollister, 1918 P. dentatus - Miller, 1927 P. larvalis - Hollister, 1918 P. taborae - G. M. Allen and Loveridge, 1927 [2]

The East African springhare (Pedetes surdaster) is an African mammal found in Kenya and Tanzania that is closely related to the South African springhare. It is a member of the Pedetidae, a rodent family, and resembles a small kangaroo.

Taxonomy

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. ^[3] P. capensis from South Africa has fewer chromosomes (2n= 38) than does P. surdaster which has (2n = 40) and some other genetic variations. ^[4] The species was confirmed by Dieterlen in 2005. ^[1]

Cervical vertebrae of East-african springhare (Pedetes surdaster), congenital cervical fusion.

Unlike South African springhare (Pedetes capensis), the second and third cervical vertebrae are fused in this species.^{[ citation needed ]}

Distribution

This species is found in central and southern Kenya and most of Tanzania. A single specimen has been recorded in Uganda near the Kenya border, at Mount Moroto. It is found from sea level up to an altitude over 2,000 m. ^[1]

Description

An East African springhare in Amboseli National Park, Kenya

The East African springhare resembles a small kangaroo (a marsupial in the family Macropodidae of Oceania), and is about the size of a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). It is mid-brown, has large erect ears, very short forelegs, and long powerful hind legs. ^[5] It moves in bounds of up to 12 feet and has a long tail fringed with black hairs which provides balance. ^[6]

Ecology

The East African springhare is nocturnal and spends the day in an extensive system of burrows. It lives in semiarid grassland habitats. ^[1] The diet is the green parts of plants, roots and other vegetable matter, and occasionally insects. ^[5]

References

1. Butynski, T.M.; De Jong, Y. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Pedetes surdaster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016 e.T136621A115210504. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T136621A22240559.en .
2. Dieterlen, F. (2005). "Family Pedetidae". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1535. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
3. Matthee, C. A.; Robinson, T. J. (1997). "Mitochondrial DNA phylogeography and comparative cytogenetics of the springhare, Pedetes capensis (Mammalia: Rodentia)". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 4: 53–73. doi:10.1023/A:1027331727034.
4. Matthee, C. A.; Robinson, T. J. (1997a). "Molecular phylogeny of the springhare, Pedetes capensis, based on mitochondrial DNA sequences". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 14 (1): 20–29. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a025698. PMID   9000750.
5. Nelson, George S. (March 1961). "On Dipetalonema manson-bahri n.sp., from the Spring-hare, Pedetes surdaster larvalis, with a Note on its Development in Fleas" . Journal of Helminthology. 35 (1–2). Cambridge University Press: 143–160. doi:10.1017/S0022149X0002486X. PMID   13728280.
6. Butynski, Thomas M. (1984). Macdonald, D. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Mammals . New York: Facts on File. pp.  634–635. ISBN   0-87196-871-1.