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.

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 (2016). "Pedetes surdaster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T136621A115210504. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
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.