Natal red rock hare facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Natal red rock hare |
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| Illustration of P. crassicaudatus from Geoffroy, 1832 | |
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Pronolagus
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crassicaudatus
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The Natal red rock hare (Pronolagus crassicaudatus) is a type of mammal that belongs to the rabbit and hare family, called Leporidae. It has a grayish-brown head and reddish-brown fur on its back. Its fur is thick and rough, different from other rock hares.
This hare lives only in Africa. You can find it in parts of South Africa, eastern Lesotho, Eswatini, and southern Mozambique. It eats plants, mostly grass. It can have babies throughout the year, usually one or two pups are born in the summer. Experts say it is a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species, meaning it's not currently at high risk of disappearing.
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About the Natal Red Rock Hare's Name
A French zoologist named Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire first described the Natal red rock hare in 1832. He first put it in the Lepus group, calling it Lepus crassicaudatus.
Later, in 1906, an American mammalogist named Marcus Ward Lyon Jr. moved it to the Pronolagus group. This is how it got its current scientific name, Pronolagus crassicaudatus. For a while, some people thought it was just a type of Jameson's red rock hare.
What Does the Natal Red Rock Hare Look Like?
The Natal red rock hare is a large rabbit. It can be about 46 to 56 centimeters (18 to 22 inches) long. Its tail is bright reddish-brown and measures about 3.5 to 11 centimeters (1.4 to 4.3 inches). These hares usually weigh between 2.4 and 3 kilograms (5.3 and 6.6 pounds).
Its head is grayish-brown, and its lower cheeks and chin are gray or whitish-gray. It has a whitish-gray stripe along its jaw. The fur on its back is brown with black flecks, and its belly fur is pale reddish-brown with white spots. The sides of its body are lighter in color. Its ears are short, about 7.5 to 8.5 centimeters (3 to 3.3 inches) long, and are gray inside and whitish-gray outside. The fur on its feet is reddish-brown.
This hare's fur is very thick and rough. Some people have said its flesh has a strong smell.
Where Do Natal Red Rock Hares Live?
The Natal red rock hare is found only in southern Africa. It lives in southeastern parts of South Africa, eastern Lesotho, Eswatini, and southern Mozambique.
These hares prefer to live in rocky places. This includes steep cliffs, hillsides with scattered rocks, and rocky gorges where they can find grass to eat. They often hide in tall grasses or thick bushes during the day. You can find them at heights of up to 1,550 meters (5,085 feet) above sea level.
Daily Life and Habits
Natal red rock hares often live in small groups. They are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. During the day, they hide in rocky areas or under dense grass.
They are herbivores, which means they eat plants. Their diet mainly consists of grass, especially young grass, weeds, and other small plants. They get most of their water from dew and the food they eat, so they don't always need to drink from water sources. At night, they might travel to higher places to find more grass.
These hares have excellent senses. They can see all around them (360-degree vision), have a good sense of smell, and sharp hearing. When they stand their ears up, a network of veins inside helps them cool down by releasing heat.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Natal red rock hares can have babies all year long. The mother builds a nest using plant material and her own fur. After about one month of pregnancy, she usually gives birth to one or two babies, called pups. These pups are typically born in the summer and weigh about 70 to 100 grams (2.5 to 3.5 ounces).
When communicating with other hares, they make grunting sounds. If they feel scared, they can make loud screams and cries. If caught, they are known to fight by biting and kicking with their strong back feet. Natal red rock hares can live for up to five years.
Who Hunts Them?
Many larger carnivores hunt the Natal red rock hare. These predators include leopards, caracals, African wildcats, snakes, and different types of birds of prey.
Status and Conservation
Since 1996, the Natal red rock hare has been listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. This is good news because it means they are not currently in danger of extinction. They live across a large area, more than 20,000 square kilometers (7,700 square miles). Even though their numbers are slowly going down, there are still more than 10,000 adult hares in the wild.
These hares are common in many provincial parks, national parks, and wildlife refuges. They are also protected by local conservation groups during certain times of the year.
However, human activities are causing problems for the Natal red rock hare. Things like new towns being built, farming, and hunting in rural areas are reducing their population. Since the 1900s, a lot of their natural home (between 21% and 50%) has been destroyed. This habitat loss is expected to continue, which could lead to a significant drop in their numbers.
