The African savanna hare (Lepus victoriae) is a mammal species in the family Leporidae, native to Africa. It is native to diverse regions and habitats of Africa, including savannas and the Sahel.
An African Savanna Hare.
Physical Characteristics
The African savanna hare is a medium-sized species growing to a length of between 41 and 58 cm (16 and 23 in) with a weight of between 1.5 and 3 kilograms (3.3 and 6.6 lb). The ears have black tips, the dorsal surface of head and body is greyish-brown, the flanks and limbs are reddish-brown and the underparts are white. The general colouring is richer in tone than other hares, especially in mountain regions where the hares are a rather darker shade. The tail is black above and white below.
Habitat and Range
True to their name, African savanna hares thrive on savannas, scrublands, and in semi-desert regions. They live on Mount Kenya, but not at elevations above 12,000 feet (3,600 m). Savanna hares live only in sub-Saharan Africa.
Behavior and Lifestyle
African savanna hares are solitary, nocturnal animals. Active at night, hares scatter for cover when they are scared or startled. Normally a shy animal, the European brown hare changes its behavior in spring, when it can be seen in daytime chasing other hares. This appears to be competition between males (called bucks) to attain dominance for breeding. During this spring frenzy, animals of both sexes can be seen "boxing", one hare striking another with its paws.
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They rely on camouflage to stay hidden, but can run at up to 70 kilometres (43 mi) an hour and sometimes leap vigorously sideways to break the scent trail they are leaving. They cannot see directly in front of them, so when they run, they move in a zigzag pattern at speeds of up to 43 miles per hour (70 kph). To throw off their predators, they make sudden leaps to the side. This breaks up their scent trail, making it difficult for predators to follow. Savanna hares live mainly solitary lives, though they sometimes form groups of two or three when eating. Savanna hares use their senses of hearing, smell, and sight to avoid predators. These hares have a special pad hidden under each nostril that heightens their sense of smell.
Diet
Savanna hares eat mainly grasses and herbs, though they will sometimes eat roots, bark, fruit, berries, or fungi. They feed mainly on grasses and herbs but also chew roots, shoots and bark and sometimes eat fallen fruit and occasionally fungi.
In some habitats, they actually eat their food twice. At night after they eat, hares produce a form of feces-called cecotropes-that contains undigested plant matter. They eat these feces to extract any remaining nutrients. Easily digestible food is processed in the gastrointestinal tract, expelling the waste as regular feces. For nutrients that are harder to extract, hares, like all lagomorphs, ferment fiber in the cecum and expel the mass as cecotropes, which they ingest again, a practice called cecotrophy or refection.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The breeding behaviour of African savanna hares has been little studied. Breeding takes place throughout the year rather than during any particular season. Biologists don’t know much about how savanna hares reproduce, but they do know that each year females can give birth to as many as six to eight litters of between one and two kits each. The average for each female is about 14 kits a year.
They seem to reproduce at any time of year and the female gives birth to several litters during the year. The young are born in the open and able to run soon after birth. The mother seems to separate them and visits each one at intervals to allow them to suckle.
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Relationship with the Environment
Savanna hares thrive in areas where large herbivores, especially hippos, have grazed. Scientists are not sure of the direct cause for this, but it may have to do with new sprouts coming up in already-grazed areas. Humans prey on the African hare. The hare has been hunted for centuries, not only for its meat and fur but also just for sport. African hare habitat is rapidly declining.
This speed is absolutely critical to its survival. Lacking any other formidable defenses at its disposal, the hare is a small and timid animal that can outrun predators with incredible bursts of speed and endurance.
What is the Difference Between Rabbits and Hares?
Conservation Status
Savanna hares, like many hares in Africa, are listed as a species of lower risk by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, scientists are confident that savanna hares are abundant. It’s very difficult to count savanna hares in the wild, mostly because it’s difficult to distinguish from the Cape hare.
African Savanna Hare and African Folklore
In African mythology, the hare is a clever creature that gifted humanity with the village, the drum, and music. The hare is an animal that has been featured prominently in the mythology and folklore of human societies around the world.
Hares vs. Rabbits
There is quite a bit of popular confusion between the terms hare and rabbit. Hares and rabbits are both animals that belong to the same family of Leporidae and the order of Lagomorpha (although they were once considered rodents). The main differences are the hare’s larger ears, more solitary lifestyle, and the tendency to bear young above ground rather than in burrows.
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Because of the young lack protection, they must be ready to fend for themselves immediately after birth. Hares and rabbits are sometimes hard to tell apart, but you can identify a hare by its larger size, huge ears, and tendency to live in pairs instead of large groups. Another difference is the tendency to bear young above ground rather than in burrows.
Despite their similar appearances, hares and rabbits are not genetically compatible. Too much time has passed on an evolutionary scale since they shared a “last common ancestor” from which both lineages split off. They also have a different number of chromosomes, which makes them completely incompatible. By comparison, hares and rabbits occupy entirely different genera.
Difference between a Hare and a Rabbit.
Hares and Humans
The hare has traditionally been a common source of food for people, and they are still among the most hunted animals today. Most of this hunting is responsibly done. Hare meat and blood have both been used across the globe through centuries as a source of protein. Hare are available everywhere and their numbers are plenty, which is why hunting activities are unregulated compared to other game.
Jugging Hare: The blood of hare is collected in a process called Jugging. The blood is then used to cook the rabbit meat and to thicken the gravy or sauce. The hare is first skinned and the entrails are removed, then the hare is hung upside down so all the blood accumulates in the chest cavity. The hare can be hung for long period of time for collecting the blood. Which is why it is mixed with red wine to prevent coagulation and refrigerated.
Various Hare Species
There are about 40 species of hares in the world. They are divided into three different genera: Lepus, Caprolagus, and Pronolagus. Here are some examples of hare species:
- Abyssinian Hare - Native to East Africa. Silvery gray with black patches.
- African Savanna Hare - Native to Africa. Grayish-brown with reddish-brown markings.
- Alaskan Hare - Native to Alaska. Does not burrow.
- Antelope Jackrabbit - Native to Arizona and Mexico. One of largest breeds with huge ears.
- Arctic Hare - Native to Arctic Circle. They have thick coats and burrow to stay warm.
- Cape Hare - Native to Africa, India, and Arabia.
- Chinese Hare - Native to China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
- European Hare - Native to Europe and parts of Asia. Most common species in Europe. Habitat is open areas.
- Japanese Hare - Native to Japan. Large in size with a coat that changes seasonally.
- Snowshoe Hare - Native to North America. Coat changes colors with the seasons.
- Wooly Hare - Native to China, India, and Nepal.
