Hewitt's red rock hare

Hewitt's red rock hare
	P. saundersiae in Hantam, South Africa
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. saundersiae
Binomial name
	Pronolagus saundersiae; Hewitt, 1927
	P. saundersiae range
Synonyms
	Pronolagus barretti Roberts, 1949 ; Pronolagus bowkeri Hewitt, 1927 ; Pronolagus australis Roberts, 1933;

Hewitt's red rock hare (Pronolagus saundersiae) is a species of rabbit in the family Leporidae found in South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho. It is a medium-sized, densely-furred rufous and brown rabbit that behaves similarly to other red rock hares, with a preference for higher elevated rocky habitats. Previously classified as a subspecies of Smith's red rock hare (Pronolagus rupestris), it is now regarded as its own species.

Like other red rock hares, P. saundersiae is nocturnal, and is presumed to feed on grasses, herbs, and shrubs. Its breeding patterns are also presumed to be similar to those of other red rock hares, with females producing three to four litters of altricial young each warm season. The species is predated upon by Verreaux's eagle, Cape eagle-owls, and leopards. It is considered a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is said to be "abundant" throughout its range, despite not being protected by any specific conservation measures. As a result of habitat loss caused by humans, the global population is expected to decrease.

Taxonomy

The Hewitt's red rock hare was named by John Hewitt (1880–1961), the director of the Albany Museum, South Africa.^[8] Hewitt originally described this taxon as a subspecies of Pronolagus crassicaudatus in his 1927 description.^[7] Its type locality was Grahamstown.^[9]^[10] He described this taxon based on skulls from Albany district, which were collected by Enid Saunders and Frank Bowker. The species was named after Saunders.^[11]

It is regarded as its own species due to differences in morphology (specifically having a snout bone shorter than its frontal bone, compared to Smith's red rock hare)^[12] and genetic differences in cytochrome b and 12S rRNA from other members of Pronolagus.^[13] It has been previously classified as a subspecies of Pronolagus rupestris by various zoologists,^[14] including Ellerman, Morrison-Scott and Hayman,^[9] as well as Hoffman and Smith for the third edition of Mammal Species of the World.^[6] The two species are very closely related, diverging at an estimated date of 1.65 ± 0.69 million years ago.^[15]

Fossil record

Fossils of P. saundersiae are extremely sparse. Presence of its remains in archaeological studies are mentioned in lists of taxa found at a given site, but are never described or illustrated. It has specifically appeared in localities dating back to the Late Pleistocene, but further study is warranted to clarify its first appearance.^[16]

Characteristics

P. saundersiae is a densely-furred, medium-sized (1.35–2.05 kg (3.0–4.5 lb)) red rock hare that is largely brown with light rufous underparts and a sandy- to red-colored tail. Its sides are slightly lighter than its back in coloration, and its head is grayish-brown with grayish-white cheeks.^[17]^[16] The color of its fur varies by habitat.^[18]

Its adult head-body length measures between 380 and 535 mm (15.0 and 21.1 in), and tail length between 50 and 115 mm (2.0 and 4.5 in).^[19] The ear length measures 80–110 mm (3.1–4.3 in), and the hind foot 85–100 mm (3.3–3.9 in).^[18]

Distribution and habitat

P. saundersiae is found in South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho.^[1] It specifically occurs in the South African provinces of Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the western half of Eswatini and the entirety of Lesotho.^[17] Its range overlaps with that of Jameson's red rock hare in some regions, where the two species' habitats differ in elevation and rainfall,^[20] and the Natal red rock hare in others, where the two species are sympatric.^[21]

Its habitat is similar to that of other red rock hares. It occupies rocky escarpments, hillsides and kopjes,^[17] residing in particular on the tops of rocky outcroppings and in higher elevations in general.^[21]^[18] The tendency of P. saundersiae towards higher elevations in its habitat contributes towards its separation from other red rock hares in areas of overlapping distribution.^[21]^[17] Other regions P. saundersiae are found include elevated grassland and shrubland.^[1]

Behavior and ecology

P. saundersiae is presumed to behave similarly to Smith's red rock hare—a nocturnal forager that shelters under boulders and in crevices.^[17] It is likely a folivore, preferring to eat grasses, herbs and shrubs.^[22] Known predators of P. saundersiae and red rock hares in general are Verreaux's eagle, Cape eagle-owls, and leopards.^[17]

Breeding takes place during the warm season, in which a female produces three to four litters, each yielding one to two young born altricial.^[1]

Threats and interactions with humans

The population of P. saundersiae was estimated to be over 10,000 mature individuals in 2004, and the species has been said to be "abundant" throughout its range. However, there are several threats to the species, of which many are anthropogenic.^[20] The main anthropogenic impact to the species is habitat loss caused by the ongoing expansion of commercial plantations,^[17] which has been ongoing for at least 100 years as of 2016. The expansion is expected to cause a decrease of less than 20% of the species' available habitat over the period of 2016 to 2036,^[18] which will cause a decline in the global population.^[20]

Conservation

P. saundersiae is listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). No specific conservation measures have been taken, though the species does occur in at least one protected area.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Robinson, T.J.; Child, M.F.; Matthee, C.M. (2019). "Pronolagus saundersiae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T136713A45194657. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T136713A45194657.en. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
^ Hewitt 1927, pp. 434–437, Pl. 26, fig. 2.
^ Roberts, Austen (1949). "A New Pronolagus from Natal". Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 21 (1): 179–180. hdl:10520/AJA00411752_472.
^ Hewitt 1927, pp. 437–439, Pl. 26, fig. 1, Pl. 27, fig. 7.
^ Roberts, Austin (1933). "Eleven new forms of South African mammals". Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 15 (2): 270. hdl:10520/AJA00411752_604.
^ ^a ^b Hoffman, R.S.; Smith, A.T. (2005). "Order Lagomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^ ^a ^b Happold, David C. D. (2013). "Pronolagus saundersiae Hewitt's Red Rock-hare". In Happold, David C. D. (ed.). Rodents, Hares and Rabbits. Mammals of Africa. Vol. 3. London: Bloomsbury. p. 717. ISBN 978-1-4081-8992-4.
^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael, eds. (2009). "Hewitt". The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 188. ISBN 9780801895333.
^ ^a ^b Ellerman, J. R.; Morrison-Scott, T. C. S.; Hayman, R. W. (1953). "Lagomorpha — Leporidae". Southern African Mammals 1758 to 1951: A Reclassification. London: Tonbridge. p. 221.
^ Meester, J. A. J.; Rautenbach, I. L.; Dippenaar, N. J.; Baker, C. M. (1986). "Order Lagomorpha". Classification of Southern African Mammals. Transvaal Museum Monographs. Vol. 5. Transvaal Museum. pp. 298–307. hdl:10520/AJA090799001_112. ISBN 0907990061.
^ Hewitt 1927, pp. 434–435.
^ Happold, David C. D. (2013). Mammals of Africa. Vol. 3. A&C Black. p. 715. ISBN 9781408189962.
^ Robinson, T. J.; Matthee, C. A. (2005). "Phylogeny and evolutionary origins of the Leporidae: a review of cytogenetics, molecular analyses and a supermatrix analysis". Mammal Review. 35 (3–4): 241. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2005.00073.x.
^ Duthie, A. G.; Robinson, T. J. (1990). "The African Rabbits". In Chapman, Joseph A.; Flux, John E. C. (eds.). Rabbits, Hares, and Pikas: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. Gland, Switzerland: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. pp. 121–127. ISBN 2-8317-0019-1.
^ Linchamps, Pierre; Hanon, Raphaël; Stoetzel, Emmanuelle; Cohen, Brigette; Steininger, Christine (January 2025). "Medium and large-sized Glires (Rodents and Lagomorphs) from the early Pleistocene Cooper's D locality in the Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng, South Africa". Quaternary International. 715: 109590. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2024.11.008.
^ ^a ^b 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.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Smith, Andrew T.; Johnston, Charlotte H.; Alves, Paulo C.; Hackländer, Klaus, eds. (2018). "Pronolagus saundersiae (Hewitt, 1927) Hewitt's Red Rock Hare". Lagomorphs: Pikas, Rabbits, and Hares of the World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-1-4214-2341-8. LCCN 2017004268.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Schai-Braun, S. C.; Hackländer, K. (2016). "Family Leporidae (Hares and Rabbits)". In Wilson, D.E.; Lacher, T.E.; Mittermeier, R.A. (eds.). Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Vol. 6. Lagomorphs and Rodents I. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. p. 111. ISBN 978-84-941892-3-4.
^ Kingdon, Jonathan (2015). "Hewitt's Red Rock-Hare". The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals (2nd ed.). London: Bloomsbury. p. 305. ISBN 978-1-4729-1236-7.
^ ^a ^b ^c Robinson, Terry; Child, Matthew; Matthee, Conrad; Johnston, Charlotte; Smith, Andrew (June 2018), Child, MF; Roxburgh, L; Do Linh San, E; Raimondo, D; Davies-Mostert, HT (eds.), "Pronolagus saundersiae P Stapleton, John Hewitt, 1927", The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho, South Africa: South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust
^ ^a ^b ^c 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 crassicaudatus A Sedgwick, R Murchison, 1832", The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho, South Africa: South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust
^ Sekine, R. (2000). "Pronolagus rupestris (Smith's red rockhare)". Animal Diversity Web. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.

Works cited

Hewitt, John (1927). "On several new Rodents in the Albany Museum". Records of the Albany Museum. 3 (5): 430–440; Plates 26, 27.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)