Spring Hare

Spring hares are to some degree used as food by African people similarly as the common hare is still hunted all over the world. They are also kept as pets by rural African kids. Man is currently not the major threat to the spring hare. The real predators that keep their population in check are mostly wild cats, several cats, genets, mongooses, jackals, ratels and large owls. Regardless, they are very numerous and not in any danger as a species. The pedetes capensis is basically the single known species of spring hares from the single genus of the Pedetidae family. It's ricochetal moving by hopping mode of locomotion is very similar to that of kangaroos. It's odd appearance has traditionally presented difficulties of classification by scientists, who have finally allotted it's own family as a rodent.

This specimen is an now an adult captured by African boys to keep as a pet. Upon birth, the young can sit immediately on it's hind legs. They can run on the second day but are rarely out of their burrow until half grown. Sexual maturity is not precisely known but usually occurs at approximately one year old. Mating occurs all year round.