Cap phase

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Cap phase
Brown Hare444.jpg

Cape phase ( Lepus capensis )

Systematics
Subclass : Higher mammals (Eutheria)
Superordinate : Euarchontoglires
Order : Hare-like (Lagomorpha)
Family : Hares (Leporidae)
Genre : Real rabbits ( Lepus )
Type : Cap phase
Scientific name
Lepus capensis
Linnaeus , 1758
Distribution area of ​​the Kaphasen

The kaphase ( Lepus capensis ) is a species of mammal from the rabbit family (Leporidae). It is distributed over large parts of Africa (with the exception of the heavily forested areas in West and Central Africa) and on the Arabian Peninsula as far as Iraq . It was introduced in Australia. The Cape phase is sometimes referred to as the desert hare. However, this is also the German common name for Lepus tibetanus .

description

The fur of the kaphase is gray-brown on the upper side and has black speckles, the underside is whitish. The top of the bushy tail is black, the underside also white. The long ears have a black tip. The ears and the black and white tail are very noticeable in fleeing kaphases. With a head body length of 50 to 55 centimeters and a weight between 1.5 and 2.5 kilograms, it is smaller than the European hare .

Way of life

Cape phases inhabit a number of dry, open habitats such as grasslands and semi-deserts, but also mountainous regions. They can also be found in fields and plantations, but avoid dense forests. They are nocturnal animals that retreat into a hollow in the ground during the day. These are scraped out with the front paws in the immediate vicinity of bushes or tufts of grass. When a potential predator approaches, the kaphase puts its ears close to its body. If the intruder comes too close, the Cape phases suddenly jump out of their hiding place and flee at high speed. Cape phases can run at speeds of up to 60 km / h. At night they go looking for food. The food consists of plant materials such as grass and herbs, but also berries and mushrooms. Thanks to their long hind legs, they can run very quickly when fleeing from predators, but they are also good at climbing and swimming.

Reproduction

The female can give birth up to four times a year, the gestation period is around 42 days and the litter size is two to six. Newborns are hairy and have open eyes. After three weeks they start eating solid food, after four weeks they are weaned. Sexual maturity occurs at around seven to nine months.

The life expectancy of the kaphases is five or six years at most, but many animals do not survive the first year of life.

threat

Cape phases have many natural predators, including big cats and birds of prey . People also hunt them for their meat and fur. However, due to their high fertility, they are not endangered species.

Systematics

The exact delimitation of the species from other rabbit species is still controversial. Earlier Kaphasen were considered conspecific with the hares ( Lepus europaeus ), the Corsican hare ( L. Corsicanus ), the Iberian hare ( L. granatensis ) and living in Central Asia Tolai hare ( L. tolai ) considered today these species mostly viewed as independent.

In return, the subspecies of the Kaphase of the Arabian Peninsula ( L. capensis arabicus ) and Ethiopia ( L. c. Habessinicus ) are sometimes regarded as separate species.

supporting documents

literature

  • Gus Mills and Lex Hes: Mammals of Southern Africa - An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Könemann Verlag, Cologne 1997, ISBN 3-8290-3610-8

Web links

Commons : Lepus capensis  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Single receipts

  1. Mills et al., P. 115