Natal wool-tailed bunny

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Natal wool-tailed bunny
Systematics
Subclass : Higher mammals (Eutheria)
Superordinate : Euarchontoglires
Order : Hare-like (Lagomorpha)
Family : Hares (Leporidae)
Genre : Red rabbit ( Pronolagus )
Type : Natal wool-tailed bunny
Scientific name
Pronolagus crassicaudatus
( I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire , 1832)

The Natal wool- tailed hare ( Pronolagus crassicaudatus ) is a species of the African red rabbit within the hare-like species . Its distribution area is limited to the south of Africa.

features

The three types of red rabbits differ only slightly from each other and the systematics has not yet been fully clarified. The reddish brown to brown coloration, which also includes the tail, and the comparatively short ears of the animals are characteristic of other hares in Africa. The Natal wool-tailed hare is the largest species of the red rabbit, but the three species are only differentiated on the basis of minor variations in fur color and skull dimensions.

The body length of the hare, like that of the related species, is 35 to 50 or 38 to 56 centimeters, depending on the source, and the tail is 5 to 10 or 3.5 to 13.5 centimeters long. The ears are 6 to 10 centimeters in length and the rear feet are 7.5 to 10 centimeters. The body weight is 2 to 2.5 or 1.35 to 3.05 kilograms.

distribution

Distribution area of ​​the Natal woolly hare

The distribution area of ​​the Natal woolly hare is limited to southern Africa and extends in South Africa over the provinces of Eastern Cape , KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga , most of Swaziland and eastern Lesotho and the extreme south of Mozambique in the Maputo province .

Way of life

The altitude distribution ranges from sea level to heights of 1,550 meters. The species prefers rocky mountain and mountain areas with grass and shrub vegetation.

The Natal wool-tailed hare feeds primarily on young, sprouting grasses. Like all red rabbits, it is predominantly nocturnal and rests in rock caves during the day.

Systematics

The Natal wool-tailed hare is assigned to the red rabbit (genus Pronolagus ) as an independent species . It was first scientifically described as Lepus crassicaudatus by Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1832.

Hazard and protection

The Natal wool-tailed hare is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as not endangered (least concern).

Although the population in its range is declining, it is a widespread and common species. It is estimated that around 10,000 animals live in the area, a decline of around 20% is forecast for the next 20 years. The main reasons for the decline are considered to be the spread of human settlements and agricultural areas, as well as the resulting increased hunting pressure on the hares. Around 20 to 50% of the habitat has been lost since 1900, and up to 50% more could be lost as a habitat for the species by 2022.

supporting documents

  1. ↑ a b c d A.G. Duthie, TJ Robinson: The African Rabbits In: Joseph A. Chapman, John EC Flux (Eds.): Rabbits, Hares and Pikas. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. (PDF; 11.3 MB) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), Gland 1990; SS 124-127. ISBN 2-8317-0019-1 .
  2. ^ Pronolagus crassicaudatus on the homepage "Gateway to Wildpro". Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f Pronolagus crassicaudatus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2011. Posted by: C. Matthee, K. Collins, M. Keith, 2008. Accessed June 15, 2012th
  4. ↑ Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder (eds.): Pronolagus crassicaudatus ( Memento of the original from March 5, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.vertebrates.si.edu archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. in Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed).

literature

Web links

Commons : Pronolagus crassicaudatus  - Collection of images, videos and audio files