Pronolagus crassicaudatus (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1832)

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Leporidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 107-148 : 110

3.

Natal Red Rock Hare

Pronolagus crassicaudatus

French: Lapin du Natal / German: Natal-Wollschwanzhase / Spanish: Liebre roja de Natal

Other common names: Greater Red Rock Hare

Taxonomy. Lepus crassicaudatus I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1832 ,

“Port Natal [= Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa].”

Formerly, P. crassicaudatus was included as a subspecies of P. randensis but now has species status. Previously, P. rupestris and P. saundersiae were considered to be subspecies of P. crassicaudatus . Some authors list five subspecies ( crassicaudatus , rudd, karigae, bowkeri, and lebombo), but their status, characteristics, and geographical limits are uncertain, and their validity is doubtful, especially because they are distinguished partly by color of nuchal patch. Distribution of P. ¢ crassicaudatus does not overlap those of P. randensis and P. rupestris , but in the western half ofits range overlaps with P. saundersiae . As taxonomists are still trying to clarify the species differentiation in Pronolagus , the subspecific taxonomy is not elaborated yet. Hence, the distinction in subspecies might be arbitrary and unreasonable. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P.c.crassicaudatus1.GeoffroySaint-Hilaire,1832—SESouthAfrica(KwaZulu-NatalandEasternCapeprovincesSoftheTugelaRiver)andELesotho.

P.c. rudd: Thomas & Schwann, 1905 — extreme S Mozambique (Maputo Province), Swaziland, and E South Africa (Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces S to the Tugela River).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 460-560 mm, tail 35-110 mm, ear 60-80 mm, hindfoot 100-125 mm; weight 2.4-3.1 kg. The Natal Red Rock Hareis large, with rather dense and harsh fur. Dorsal pelage is brown, grizzled, and flecked with black. Pelage is bright rufous on rump. Flanks are paler, and ventral fur is pale rufous, with irregular white patches and streaks. Head is grayish brown and slightly grizzled. Chin, lower cheeks, and throat are gray, with grayish white band extending laterally along edges ofjaws to brown to gray nuchal patch. Patch on throat is brownish rufous. Ears are relatively short, sparsely furred, and whitish gray on outer surfaces and gray on inner surfaces. Forelimbs and hindlimbs are dull rufous. Tail is short and entirety bright rufous.

Habitat. Solid rocks (“kopjes”), rocky hillsides, and ravines with grass or scrubby vegetation among rocks or bases of the rocks. Natural fragmentation of habitat exists due to distribution of suitable habitat. The Natal Red Rock Hare occurs from sea level to elevations of ¢.1550 m.

Food and Feeding. The Natal Red Rock Hare is herbivorous, and its diet consists mainly of sprouting grasses. It relies heavily on rocks and boulders for cover and rarely moves far away from them when foraging. Individuals avoid areas of dense aerial cover and moribund vegetation when feeding.

Breeding. More than one male Natal Red Rock Hare might accompany a female during the breeding season. A study in KwaZulu-Natal recorded pregnant females in June and August and lactating females in August, October, and February. This suggests that reproduction takes place throughout much of the year. Numbers of embryos were 1-2.

Activity patterns. The Natal Red Rock Hare is nocturnal. It hides in rock crevices, under boulders, or in dense grass during the day.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Natal Red Rock Hare lives in small colonies of a few individuals. Characteristic disc-like feces are deposited in latrines that might have a social function.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Natal Red Rock Hare has a decreasing population trend, but it is widespread and abundant within its distribution. More than 10,000 adult individuals exist in the wild. Nevertheless, a population decline has been recorded due to encroachment of human settlements and increased hunting and trapping pressures in rural areas. Population decline is predicted to be 20% or more until 2022. In the limited region where the Natal Red Rock Hare occurs, human populations are largely low income and hunt local fauna for subsistence. This enhances the conservation threat to this otherwise abundant species. Further threats include agricultural and habitat encroachment that cause habitat loss. Since the 1990s, 21-50% of total habitat has been lost and future loss until 2022 is expected in the distribution of the Natal Red Rock Hare.

Bibliography. Angermann (2016), Boitani et al. (1999), Duthie (1997), Duthie & Robinson (1990), Flux & Anger mann (1990), Happold (2013c), Hoffmann & Smith (2005), Lissovsky (2016), Matthee, Collins & Keith (2004a, 2008b), Petter (1972), Smithers (1983), Taylor (1998).

Figures

33. Indian Hare (Lepus nigricollis), 34. Burmese Hare (Lepus peguensis), 36. Scrub Hare (Lepus saxatilis), 37. African Savanna Hare (Lepus victoriae), 38. Yarkand Hare (Lepus yarkandensis), 39. Ethiopian Highland Hare (Lepus starcki), 40. Cape Hare (Lepus capensis), 41. Abyssinian Hare (Lepus habessinicus), 42. Tolai Hare (Lepus tolai), 43. Desert Hare (Lepus tibetanus), 44. Yunnan Hare (Lepus comus), 45. Woolly Hare (Lepus oiostolus), 46. Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus), 47. Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), 48. Black Jackrabbit (Lepus insularis)

Subspecies and Distribution. P.c.crassicaudatus1.GeoffroySaint-Hilaire,1832—SESouthAfrica(KwaZulu-NatalandEasternCapeprovincesSoftheTugelaRiver)andELesotho. P.c. rudd: Thomas & Schwann, 1905 — extreme S Mozambique (Maputo Province), Swaziland, and E South Africa (Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces S to the Tugela River).