habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
All species of Pronolagus seem to have similar habitat requirements in that they are confined to rocky areas that provide shelter and occur in krantzes, rocky hillsides, boulder-strewn koppies, rocky ravines and amongst rocks in dry river beds (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). Such areas must provide palatable grasses (they are grazers) and some cover of scrub bushes. They are predominantly nocturnal, emerging at dusk to feed but never forage far from their shelters, although they forage around the base of koppies looking for fresh sprouting grasses (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). Shortridge (1934) remarked on their ability to âvanish like shadows behind rocks or down rock crevices on the slightest alarmâ. Also characteristic of the genus are their flattened round dung pellets deposited on flat spaces amongst rocks (Lynch 1983). They use latrines established away from their resting sites. Rock hares are unique in their ability to run and jump over rocks and can run up steep rock faces to reach crevices when fleeing. Key vegetation types are those typical of mountainous and rocky terrain, including Afromontane and Afroalpine areas.The Natal Red Rock Hare is usually observed in tall, dense grassland on rocky slopes where grasses and shrubs grow among the rocks or at their bases (Happold 2013a). They are nocturnal, relying on rocks for shelter during the day, although they have occasionally been flushed in thick grass where they presumably were resting. They defecate at specific sites (latrines), which is often the only evidence of their presence in an area. This is the largest of the rock hare species. Much like the other members of the family, this species is rabbit-like with thick, dense woolly pelage typically greyish in colour becoming rufous on the rump and limbs. The chin is white to grey, with colour extending in a broad band along the lower jaw to the inferior margin of the nape patch (Robinson 1982). The feet are generally rufous-brown whilst the tail is bright rufous above and below. This species lives in small colonies consisting of a few individuals. Whilst not much is known about the reproduction of this species, it is likely to be similar to other red rock hares. Nests are typically built in shallow excavations and lined with fur from the motherâs belly and flanks over a grass and stick structure. This species probably breeds year-round and has 1â2 young per litter. The Natal Red Rock Hare was described by Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, a French zoologist, and the species name means âfat tailâ.
Jamesonâs Red Rock Hare is named after Dr. Henry Lyster Jameson, an Irish zoologist and biologist from Dublin. Much like the other members of the Red Rock Hare family, this species is a medium-sized rabbit-like hare with thick, dense woolly pelage typically cinnamon-rufous in colour. Its cheeks are strikingly light grey, in contrast to the colouring of its back and sides (Robinson 1982). Generally, the feet are darker red with the soles covered in very dense dark brown hair. The tail is reddish-black and typically darker than the other species. Where its range overlaps with that of Hewittâs Red Rock Hare, it tends to occur in the drier low-lying mountain slopes where there are many jumbled boulders and rock crevices, whereas Hewittâs is found at higher altitudes with fewer boulders and crevices and higher rainfall (Happold 2013b). Generally nocturnal and solitary in nature, they can sometimes be seen in small groups when grazing.
Smithâs Red Rock Hare is confined to rocky outcrops and hills covered with grass and shrubs (Lynch 1983). Whilst this species was described by Smith in 1834, and subsequently named after him, Smith was not the first person to notice this species in the literature. Levaillant, a French explorer, mentioned a âroode-gat-haasâ in Little Namaqualand in 1795. Much like the other members of the red rock hare family, this species is a medium-sized rabbit-like hare with thick, dense woolly pelage typically cinnamon-rufous in colour. Generally, the feet and tail are darker red with the soles covered in very dense dark grey hair. Their distribution range is typically at lower elevations than Hewittâs Red Rock Hares (Happold 2013c). Nests are characteristically built in shallow excavations and lined with fur from the motherâs belly and flanks over a grass and stick structure. Breeding is restricted to warmer months during which time a female could produce 3â4 litters. Litter size is 1â2 young (Duthie and Robinson 1990) and the young are born naked.
Hewittâs Red Rock Hare was first described by Hewitt as a subspecies of P. rupestris in 1927 in which he named it after Miss Enid Saunders, a young zoologist, who had substantially contributed to the Albany Museumâs rodent collection (Hewitt 1927). It was recently recognised as a full species and named after its original proposer (Matthee & Robinson 1996; Robinson & Matthee 2005). Much like the other members of the red rock hare family, this species is a medium-sized rabbit-like hare with thick, dense woolly pelage typically cinnamon-rufous in colour. Generally, the feet and tail are darker red with the soles covered in very dense dark grey hair. Whilst not much is known about the reproduction of this species, it is likely to be similar to other red rock hares. Breeding is restricted to warmer months during which time a female could produce 3â4 litters of 1â2 altricial (naked) young on each occasion. Habitat preferences for Hewittâs Red Rock Hare are considered similar to those of other Pronolagus species, but it is generally found at higher altitudes.
Ecosystem and cultural services:
- The endemic (P. saundersiae) and near-endemic (P. crassicaudatus and P. rupestris) species are flagship species for their regions.
- Hares and rabbits are recognised as important seed dispersal agents, particularly in harsh environments.
