Cape hare facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cape hare |
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| Genus: |
Lepus
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| Species: |
capensis
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| Geographic range | |
| Cape hare in hieroglyphs | |||
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wn "Cape/desert hare" in Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs |
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The Cape hare (Lepus capensis) is a type of hare. You might also hear it called the brown hare or the desert hare. These quick animals live in Africa and Arabia, and even stretch into India.
Contents
About the Cape Hare
What Does a Cape Hare Look Like?
The Cape hare looks like a typical hare. It has strong legs for jumping and running fast. Its large eyes and ears help it spot dangers. A white ring often goes around its eyes.
Its fur is fine and soft. The color can be light brown, reddish, or sandy grey. Interestingly, female Cape hares are usually bigger than males. This is called sexual dimorphism.
Where Do Cape Hares Live?
Cape hares live in many different places. They can be found in grasslands and bushveld areas. They also live in the Sahara Desert and other semi-desert spots. You might even see them in the Ethiopian highlands.
Life of a Cape Hare
What Do Cape Hares Eat?
Cape hares are active at night, which means they are nocturnal. They are herbivores, so they eat plants. Their diet includes grass and different shrubs.
Hares often eat their own droppings. This might sound strange, but it helps them get all the nutrients from their food. Tiny helpful microbes in the droppings also provide extra goodness.
Who Hunts Cape Hares?
Cape hares are very fast runners. The only animal that can usually outrun them is the cheetah. Other predators like leopards, caracals, and black-backed jackals hunt them. These animals often wait to surprise the hares or catch them when they have a chance.
How Do Cape Hares Have Babies?
After about 42 days, a female Cape hare gives birth. She usually has one to three babies at a time. These baby hares are called leverets. A female can have up to four groups of babies each year.
Unlike baby rabbits, baby hares are born with their eyes open. They can also move around very soon after birth. This is a special trait of hares.
Cape Hares and Humans
Ancient Connections
Cape hares have been around for a long time. In ancient Egypt, a mummified Cape hare was found in a tomb. This shows how important they were. The ancient Egyptian god Wenet was even shown as a Cape hare.
Different Kinds of Cape Hares
Scientists recognize many different types of Cape hares. These are called subspecies. Each subspecies might have slight differences in where they live or how they look. There are currently 12 known subspecies of the Cape hare.
Gallery
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Cape hare (Lepus capensis arabicus) photographed at Watba Camel Race Track, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Cape hare hieroglyph depicted at the Temple of Edfu
