Pronolagus randensis, Jameson, 1907

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 : 109-110

2.

Jameson’s Red Rock Hare

Pronolagus randensis

French: Lapin de Jameson / German: Rand-Wollschwanzhase / Spanish: Liebre roja de Jameson

Taxonomy. Pronolagus randensis Jameson, 1907 ,

“Observatory Kopje...Johannesburg...Witwatersrand Range, Transvaal...5,900 ft [1798 m],” South Africa .

Formerly, P. randensis included P. crassicaudatus as a subspecies. Systematic position of the two widely disjunct populations needs to be clarified; there is no evidence of gene flow between them. A preliminary study on mtDNA within the distribution P. randensis revealed little geographical variation. Distribution of P. randensis does not overlap those of P. crassicaudatus and P. rupestris , but it does overlap the eastern part of the distribution of P. saundersiae . The subspecific taxonomy in Pronolagusis still unresolved; the original descriptions of subspecies are often not very helpful as they are mostly based on a few external characters and on small numbers of individuals. It has been shown that the variability is clinal in more careful investigations; hence, the distinctions in subspecies might be arbitrary and unreasonable. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P.r.randensisJameson,1907—Zimbabwe,extremeWMozambique,EBotswana,andNESouthAfrica.

P.r.caucinusThomas,1929—C&NWNamibia,andperhapsextremeSWAngola.

P.r. whitei Roberts, 1938 — E Zimbabwe.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 420-500 mm,tail 60-135 mm, ear 80-100 mm, hindfoot 87-110 mm; weight 1.8-3 kg. The Jameson’s Red Rock Hare is medium-sized. Fur is dense and woolly, with silky texture. Dorsal pelage is brown, grizzled, and rufous on rump and flanks. Ventral fur is pale cinnamon. Head is grizzled brownish gray, with lower cheeks and throat whitish gray. Ears are short and brownish gray. Nuchal patch is rufous, and gular patch is brownish rufous. Forelimbs and hindlimbs are pale rufous. Tail is medium-sized, with blackish rufous color.

Habitat. Solid rocks (“kopjes”), gorges, cliffs, and rocky hills, often naturally fragmented. Rock crevices and boulders are essential components of habitat ofJameson’s Red Rock Hares. Populations sometimeslive on isolated kopjes up to 22 km apart, and therefore, individuals have to cross non-rocky habitat to disperse. When Jameson’s Red Rock Hare lives in sympatry with the Hewitt’s Red Rock Hare ( P. saundersiae ), it prefers drier, lower mountain slopes, with manyjumbled boulders and rock crevices, and Hewitt’s Red Rock Hare prefers higher elevations with fewer boulders and crevices and higher rainfall.

Food and Feeding. Jameson’s Red Rock Hare is herbivorous and grazes on grasses among rocks or at the base of rocky hills. Individuals congregate on recently burned areas to feed on sprouting grasses and avoid areas of dense aerial cover and moribund vegetation when feeding.

Breeding. More than one male Jameson’s Red Rock Hare might accompany a female during the breeding season. It seems to breed throughout the year in Zimbabwe. Pregnancies have been recorded in January, May, July, and August. Lactating females have been documented in June,July, and August. Litter sizes are 1-2 young, with an average of 1-1 young.

Activity patterns. Jameson’s Red Rock Hare is mainly nocturnal but regularly feeds and sunbathes in late afternoon. It rests in rock crevices, under boulders, or in thick grass near rocks during the day. All species of red rock hares can leap from rock to rock and run up steep rock faces to reach crevices.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Jameson’s Red Rock Hares generally live alone. Occasionally, they form small groups of a female and her young or an adult female with 1-2 males. Several individuals sometimes congregate for grazing. A study in Matopos Hill, Zimbabwe, showed that most nocturnal observations were of single individuals and only 15% were of pairs. Characteristic disc-like feces are deposited in latrines that may serve a social function.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Jameson's Red Rock Hare is widespread and common within its distribution. Although some decline has occurred and continues, it is not severe, and there are more than 10,000 mature individuals in South Africa. Future decline in the total population is predicted to be 20% or more over an unspecified length of time. Decrease in habitat quality has occurred due to commercial plantations of pine ( Pinus , Pinaceae ) and eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus , Myrtaceae ) within the distribution ofJameson’s Red Rock Hare. Since the 1900s, 21-50% ofthe total suitable habitat has been lost, and future loss is predicted to be greater than 20% until the year 2022. Jameson’s Red Rock Hare is hunted for food and sport.

Bibliography. Angermann (2016), Boitani et al. (1999), Duthie & Robinson (1990), Happold (2013c), Hoffmann & Smith (2005), Lissovsky (2016), Matthee, Collins & Keith (2004b, 2008a), Peddie (1975), Roberts (1938), Smithers (1983), Smithers & Wilson (1979).

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.r.randensisJameson,1907—Zimbabwe,extremeWMozambique,EBotswana,andNESouthAfrica. P.r.caucinusThomas,1929—C&NWNamibia,andperhapsextremeSWAngola. P.r. whitei Roberts, 1938 — E Zimbabwe.