| Jameson's red rock hare | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Lagomorpha |
| Family: | Leporidae |
| Genus: | Pronolagus |
| Species: | P. randensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Pronolagus randensis Jameson, 1907 | |
| |
| P. radensis range | |
Jameson's red rock hare (Pronolagus randensis) is a species of rabbit in the family Leporidae found in rocky habitats within Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique. It is a rufous and brown-furred rabbit that is slightly smaller than the largest of the red rock hare species.
Taxonomy
P. randensis was first described by and named after Irish zoologist Henry Lyster Jameson in 1907 at Observatory Hill, now Johannesburg, in what was at that time the Transvaal Colony. The specific name randensis is derived from the colloquial name, "the Rand", for the Witwatersrand area where the species' type specimen was described. As the species appears in two widely separated populations, it has been suggested that each population makes up a distinct species. In 1971, there were ten subspecies, which decreased to nine in later descriptions; by 2005, only 3 subspecies were recognized:
Distribution and habitat
P. randensis has a disjunct distribution, with one population extending from southern Angola to western and central Namibia and the other occurring mainly in Zimbabwe, extending into South Africa, Botswana, and slightly into Mozambique. Each population is separated by roughly 900 kilometres (560 mi) of land.
Jameson's red rock hare is found in rocky environments: kopjes, canyons, and cliffs. It occupies lower elevations than Hewitt's red rock hare. This red rock hare is found on the rocky slopes of mountainous regions of the southern African continent. It is also found in grassy or bushy areas on or around these mountains and it uses them as its shelter during resting periods and sleep.
Characteristics
This species has a fine, silky fur which is grizzled rufous-brown on the upper parts of the body. It has a whitish chin and slightly lighter fur on the ventrum. The sides of the neck, lower jaw and cheeks are light grey in colour. It has a large reddish-brown, black tipped tail. The large ears are sparsely haired and sometimes are tipped with black. When fully grown, P. randensis can weigh from 1.82 to 2.95 kilograms (4.0 to 6.5 pounds). It is slightly smaller than the largest red rock hare, the Natal red rock hare (P. crassicaudatus).
Reproduction
Very little is known about its breeding habits. Based on behavior observed in Zimbabwe, it is assumed that breeding occurs year around and females give birth to one to two young per litter.
Behavior and ecology
Active by night, this species remains in hiding during the day and therefore is nocturnal. Solitary in habits, although it is sometimes seen in groups when grazing, and also in congregations consisting of a female, her young, and one to two males. An oestrus female is often followed by courting males.
Jameson's red rock hare only feeds at night, when it is most active. It feeds on the vegetation and insects in and around its habitat including grasses, and prefers eating fresh shoots following brush fires. If it cannot find grass within its rocky habitat, it will venture out into flat areas to forage, retreating back into rocky outcroppings afterwards or if startled. It avoids eating some plants, such as Croton gratissimus and Indigofera filipes. Known predators of P. randensis and red rock hares in general are Verreaux's eagle, Cape eagle-owls, and leopards.
Human interaction and impact
Jameson's red rock hare is listed as a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Its distribution overlaps with many national parks and protected areas, such as Matobo National Park. The species is protected in South Africa by nature conservation agencies through seasonal hunting regulations, as it is hunted for game and sport. The expansion of commercial plantations has contributed to habitat loss, and currently, the population of Jameson's red rock hare appears to be decreasing.
References
- ^ Hoffman, R.S.; Smith, A.T. (2005). "Pronolagus randensis". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 206–207. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ Child, M.F.; Matthee, C.M.; Robinson, T.J. (2019). "Pronolagus randensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41294A45190258. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T41294A45190258.en. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
- ^ Jameson, H. Lyster (1907). "On a new hare from the Transvaal". Journal of Natural History. Ser. 7. 20 (119): 404–406. doi:10.1080/00222930709487358.
- ^ Matthee, Conrad; Wilson, Beryl; Robinson, Terry; Child, Matthew; Roxburgh, Lizanne; Smith, Andrew (January 2016), Child, MF; Roxburgh, L; Do Linh San, E; Raimondo, D; Davies-Mostert, HT (eds.), "Pronolagus radensis H Jameson, 1907", The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho, South Africa: South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust
- ^ Sen, S.; Pickford, M. (2022). "Red Rock Hares (Leporidae, Lagomorpha) past and present in southern Africa, and a new species of Pronolagus from the early Pleistocene of Angola" (PDF). Communications of the Geological Survey of Namibia. 24: 67–96.
- ^ Johnston, Charlotte H. (2018). "Pronolagus randensis Jameson, 1907 Jameson's Red Rock Hare". In Smith, Andrew T.; Johnston, Charlotte H.; Alves, Paulo C.; Hackländer, Klaus (eds.). Lagomorphs: Pikas, Rabbits, and Hares of the World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 110–111. ISBN 978-1-4214-2341-8. LCCN 2017004268.
- Rathbun, Galen B.; Rathbun, Carolyn D. (December 2005). "Noki or dassie-rat (Petromus typicus) feeding ecology and petrophily" (PDF). Belg. J. Zool. (supplement). 135: 69–75.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Pronolagus randensis | |