Springhare

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Springhare
EastAfrican springhare.jpg
East African springhare
Pedetes surdaster
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Subkingdom Bilateria
Branch Deuterostomia
Phylum Information
Phylum Chordata
Sub-phylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass Tetrapoda
Class Mammalia
Sub-class Theria
Infra-class Eutheria
Order Information
Order Rodentia
Sub-order Anomaluromorpha
Family Information
Family Pedetidae
Genus Information
Genus Pedetes
Population statistics

The springhares are two species of mammals of the family Pedetidae, and found in eastern and southern Africa. Although rodents, they are called springhares from a superficial resemblance to both kangaroos and hares.

Description

Springhares are comparatively large rodents, with body length (excluding the tail) around 15.7 inches, and a weight of about 6.1 pounds. The tail is as long as the body, and is used as a counterbalance when jumping. They have long hind legs with long feet of about 5.9 inches in length, while the front legs are only very short. The eyes and ears are very large.

Springhares live in dry and open steppes and semi-desert areas without or with only a small tree population. They are nocturnal and stay exclusively on the ground, feeding on grasses and seeds. During the day they stay in self-dug burrows.

Species