Scrub hare

Busch hare in the Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa

The scrub hare ( Lepus saxatilis ) is a mammal of the family of hares ( Leporidae ). It is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa with the exception of the heavily forested areas in West and Central Africa.

Description

The coat of the bush rabbits is gray brown on the top and has black mottles, the underside is whitish. The top of the bushy tail is black, the bottom also white. On the front there is usually a white spot.

The scrub hare so strongly resembles the Kaphasen, but is mostly the larger animal in the respective region. The size varies depending on the area, with the largest animals found in southwestern Africa. Adult males can weigh there a body length of 60 cm.

Way of life

Busch hares prefer open forests and bushy habitats, but also cultivated land. Normally bush rabbits are loners. Only in areas with an oversupply of food they can be found in greater numbers. The animals are nocturnal and feed mainly on grass, although other plants are eaten.

Occurrence

The distribution area of the bush Hasen is in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and southern Namibia. Among other things, the type is in the National Park Bontebok, Mountain Zebra, Willem Pretorius, Hluhluwe / Umfolozi, Kruger, Pilanesberg, Kgalagadi ( Kalahari ), Etosha, Moremi, Chobe, Hwange, Mana Pools, Kafue, South Luangwa, Tsavo, Ngorongoro, Serengeti to find Virunga, Masai Mara and Nairobi.

Swell

• Chris and Tilde Stuart: Southern, Central and East African Mammals, Struik Publishers, 1992, ISBN ISBN 0-86825-223- X ( ISBN formally wrong )