Kgalagadi MAMMAL Challenge - Fun & Drinks

[Lisbeth]

I'll send you the bill

[Mel]

... Here's what I could find on the differences between Scrub Hares and Cape Hares (in areas their distribution overlaps).

From "Field Guide To Mammals of Southern Africa" by Chris and Tilde Stuart





So whenever you encounter a hare, make certain you photograph its underparts and "Nuchal patch"

Kalahari Cape Hare (?)

Kruger Scrub Hare (?)
On road leading out of Tamboti - is this in the area BOTH are found - can't quite discern on the map.

...

[Mel]

Since ExFmem posted some indicators to distinguish the Cape hare from the scrub hare, I thought we might want to review our checklist entries

Scrub Hare

19.1.2012 - Urikaruus




Identification
Scrub hares have a typical hare-like body shape with long ears, long well-developed hind legs and a short fluffy tail. The body hair is fine and soft, the upperparts are a brown-grey to grey colour with a black-fleck giving the coat a grizzled appearance. The underparts are white. The head is a lighter whitish or buff on the sides of the face and around the eyes. Most animals have a distinct white patch on the forehead just above the eyes. The nucal patch, situated in the nape of the neck behind the ears is a more reddish brown than the rest of the body. The tail is black above and white underneath. The females are larger and heavier than the males.

Size
Size: Body length 45-65 cm; weight range 1.5 –4.5 kg.



Cape Hare

by ExFmem

DISTRIBUTION AND Taxonomic Note:
L. capensis occurs in four general geographic locations (South Africa, East Africa, Arabia and Near East, and northwest Africa). Hoffmann and Smith (2005) restrict L. capensis to the South African distribution, citing no evidence of gene flow between the southern and northern ranges. The authors suggested that these four groups might represent distinct species.
Generally, the entire taxonomy of L. capensis throughout its range is unclear. Taxonomic review of the species is urgently needed; otherwise, it is possible that some forms may go extinct before they are formally identified.

by Bushveld Jock

SIZE:
Length (m) 55 cm, (f) 51 cm, mass 2 kg.

COLOUR:
Grey-brown flecked with black, the flanks and legs are more ruddy-brown, the abdomen whitish. Pale rings around the eyes; upperside of tail black and the underside white.

MOST LIKE:
The Scrub Hare, but has a distinctive yellow chest and white abdomen, while the Scrub Hare has white underparts throughout. The nuchal patch (on nape of neck behind ears) in Cape Hares is brownish-pink, while in the Scrub Hare it is reddish-brown.

by Lisbeth

BEHAVIOR:
The Cape Hare is predominantly nocturnal, and rests by day concealed in shallow depressions. A hare will return to its form (resting places are known as 'forms' because they are shaped by the animal's body) day after day, and will sleep lying in exactly the same position. It is only when under stress that it may take alternative refuge in the underground burrow of some other animal. After dark it emerges to feed on grasses and sometimes on other plants. The upper incisors are long and chisel-like and they grow throughout the hare's lifetime. When two males fight, (usually when a female is in heat), they stand on their hind legs and slash at each other with the claws of their forefeet. Their behavior when they are angry includes the grinding of teeth, drumming of forefeet and stamping of hind feet.

General behaviour
Scrub hares are nocturnal but may be active during the early morning and the late afternoon. They occur singly unless a female is accompanied by courting males or her offspring. During the day they lie up in “forms” (shallow depressions in the ground or grass), usually concealed under bushes amongst some grass. The drab colour of the body provides good camouflage and they fold their ears flat back against their body with the head tucked in against the body. Characteristically of hares when threatened they remain motionless until the last second and then suddenly break cover and rely on their speed to escape. If caught they emit a loud squealing sound, and will kick viciously with their large back feet and bite if given the opportunity.

by Duke

I'm losing my hair trying to sort these Hares out.
Was told this one was Cape Hare, then Scrub Hare, now I don't know if I'm hare, sorry, here or there with what it is. I'm lagamorphing behind with my Lepus ID's. Help someone before I go as mad as a March Hare.

by Dewi
by Dewi

What about this one. Cape hare I think

by Duke

by Michele Nel
Nossob Riverbed, January 2016

(I took out some bits and pieces to shorten the post to make it - hopefully - easier to check )

[ExFmem]

Some of these simply don't have enough definitive angles to determine who's who. So much is practically identical and/or "variable" such as fur coloring, even in North versus South of the same species.

Unless the photo shows the white forehead spot (thanks for that bit of Afrikaans nomenclature Okie), the white underparts extending into the chest area (BUT can be completely white in northern Cape Hares ), or reddish-brown nape of neck area to distinguish Scrub Hares; or the "non-white" chest or brownish-pink/pale grey nape area distinguishing Cape Hares, to me it's unknowable for us lay folks.

A couple of the pics show the non-white chest, and one looks to me to have a reddish-brown nape, so those may be separated out. Also not sure I can see the one on it's back's chest unobstructed - are the feet covering it??

Not much help here, I know, but I'll be more careful in the future to try and get pics from different angles (standing up on hind legs or rolling over on its back like a puppy dog, nape area, or will try to weigh it, as Scrub Hares can weigh up to 4.5 kg. but Cape's only to 2.5 kg. )

I also see that the UNDERSIDE of the foot of the Scrub Hare is covered in hair, so will try for a High Five or wave goodbye before departing.

[Mel]

I have added 135 points for my tonight's posts to my own score

nan: 1955
Mel: 1435
ExFmem: 1100
Tina: 580
Duke: 495
Bushveld Jock & PRWIN: 455
Michele Nel: 300
Toko: 290
Lisbeth: 150
Dewi: 30

[Mel]

Ex... I had thought I had answered to your post... but it seems only in my mind

Anyway... Whereas I totally agree with you on the explicit photos we would need for a proper identification,
I refuse to pack a scale for my next KTP trip... Those hares are way too unreliable to burden myself with the
extra weight for that gadget

But I like your angle regarding the high five Must notify the hares to cooperate

[ExFmem]

I have added 135 points for my tonight's posts to my own score

nan: 1955
Mel: 1435
ExFmem: 1100
Tina: 580
Duke: 495
Bushveld Jock & PRWIN: 455
Michele Nel: 300
Toko: 290
Lisbeth: 150
Dewi: 30

I've got you in my crosshairs, Mel , and I'm comin' after you!

Will post my first entries next, but let me know if there is an easier way for you to add these to the appropriate topic in the Mammal Challenge topic. Sorry for all the "work"

[ExFmem]

Cheetah+Oryx 15+5 = 20



Jackal+giraffe 10+5 = 15



Giraffe+springbok 10+5 = 15



Brown Hyena+jackal 20+5 = 25



AWC+Brandts Wh. Rat 15+20 = 35



Honey Badger+jackal 20+5 = 25



Wildebeest+springbok 5+5 = 10



Cheetah+wildebeest 15+5 = 20

[Lisbeth]

You always have such surprising photos, ExF

[Flutterby]

Some great pics ExF!!