Additional information
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- International calls: +27 13 750 1470
- Local calls: 013 751 2527
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The South African Springhare (Pedetes Capensis) (Afrikaans: Springhaas) is a medium-sized terrestrial and burrowing rodent. Despite the name, it is not a hare. It is one of two extant species in the genus Pedetes and is native to Southern Africa. San and baTswana people both traditionally make use of Springhare. Both groups of people hunt Springhare, which can yield up to 1360g (3lb.) of meat. Aside from the meat, San people use Springhare skins for a variety of uses, such as bags, mats, karosses (garments or blankets made from sewn animal skins) and hats. The tail provides sinew for sewing, and an ornamental belt that produces sounds can be made by tying Springhare toes on a string.
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The Springhare resembles a small Kangaroo with well-developed hind legs, short front legs, and a long tail which comprises half of its body length. As well as a long tail, Springhare have relatively large eyes and ears. Adults can attain 80 cm (31 in) in length and weigh an average of 2.7–3.5 kg (6.0–7.7 lb). Similar to Kangaroos, they are also saltatorial animals who use their tails for balance. Springhare are reported to be able to make hops of 20 cm (7.9 in) and leaps of 2 m (6 ft 7 in).
Springhare have long, soft fur, which shortens around the legs, heads, and ears. The colour of this mammal varies from a reddish-brown on its upperparts to an off-white belly and a black tip on the tail. Sometimes the ear tips are also black. Young Springhare have finer and fluffier fur and usually have black patches of fur under their hind feet and in a patch of black under their tail base.
Springhare have a different number of toes on their forelegs and hindlegs. Their short forelegs have five digits, each ending in a long, sharp, curved claw, which can be 16 millimetres long. their long hindlegs have four digits, three of which are visibly developed and equipped with a strong triangular nail.
The oldest recorded individual was 88 months (7 years and 4 months) old.
Springhare fur is biofluorescent. Their biofluorescence is patchy, with areas important to grooming and intra-specific interactions being the most biofluorescent. Little is known about its biofluorescence, but both species of Springhare are the first thoroughly documented cases of biofluorescence in an Old World eutherian mammal.
Springhare are nocturnal animals, who forage during the night and retreat to a burrow during the day. While sleeping in their burrows, Springhare sleep standing, with their head and forelimbs bent down in between their hindlegs, and their tail wrapped around their feet.
These animals are predated upon by a variety of predators, including humans; at least 21 species prey on Springhare in the Kalahari.
Springhare are burrowing animals. They dig their own burrows on well-drained sandy soils, preferentially during the wet season. The front claws loosen soil from the burrow wall while the teeth cut through roots. The front feet toss the soil beneath the body and the hind feet kick it further back. When the pile of loosened soil is large enough, the Springhare turns around, and with its chin, chest and front feet held up against the pile, it pushes the soil to the entrance with thrusts of the hind feet.
Burrows are often located near trees or shrubs, which are sparse in the typical Springhare habitat. It is thought they may help with concealment as well as providing a point of reference back to the burrow. A Springhare burrow is 20 cm in diameter, may be up to 1 meter deep and up to 7 meters long. Burrows may cover an area of up to 170 m2. They usually have several entrances. Two types of entrances can be distinguished, one which is very visible thanks to the pile of sand present at the opening, and the other one which is a “hidden” entrance with no soil to mark its presence. Springhare remain close to one of their burrow entrances while feeding and if disturbed, they return to their own burrows, ignoring other burrows in the way. Springhare tend to only reside in any given burrow for a few consecutive days at most. In a study of their burrowing activities in South Africa, they found that Springhare used 4 to 27 different burrows, and most burrows (70%) were only ever used by a single Springhare. Very few burrows were used by more than two animals. In the same study, they found cohabitation (two Springhare using the same burrow at the same time) to be very rare. The same burrows may be used throughout generations and expanded, with new tunnels added as needed. While Springhare have not been seen defending their burrows or territory, they mark the burrows with their perineal glands secretions, or by urinating at the burrow entrance, probably to warn other Springhare that a specific burrow is occupied. Springhare are able to plug entrances to their burrows with soil. Two plug types were distinguished. Temporary plugs formed from the inside of the burrow, probably aimed at avoiding predators entering a burrow. Permanent plugs were long (0.5 – 3 m) and sometimes filled entire tunnel branches.
The Springhare unoccupied burrows are sometimes used for hiding during the daytime by a number of other species, including the Black-Footed Cat and the ground Pangolin.
Springhare are herbivorous, eating a variety of plant matter, such as roots, stems, leaves, and seeds. However, Springhare are picky eaters and often leave abundant plant materials behind in their feeding grounds. On occasion, Springhare may feed on insects such as beetles or locusts, or even carrion.
Springhare feed at night and can range 150 – 400 m away of one of their burrows. They may feed in large groups of up to nine individuals. In these instances, they do not display aggression or territorial behaviours.
Springhare breed throughout the year and have a gestation period of about 77 days. The females give birth to a single young about three times a year. Moreover, females can be lactating and in the early stages of pregnancy at the same time. Their ability to reproduce year-round is thought to be attributable to their highly selective diet (choosing only the best parts of the plant), their wide range of foods available to them (above and underground), and their behavioural and physical adaptations to living in arid and semi-arid conditions.
Springhare give birth in a burrow to a furred young of about 250 – 300 g. Springhare usually give birth to a single young, but birthing twins is known to occur. While the young remains at the burrow, the mother stops the usual behaviour of moving burrows every couple of days. She is bound to the burrow where her young is, who depends entirely on her milk. The young stays in the burrow for approximately seven weeks until they attain a body weight of approximately 1.3 kg. The extended period of parental care may help mitigate a birthrate that is, among rodents, remarkably low.
Springhare live throughout semi-arid areas in southern Africa, preferentially in sandy plains and pans with short grasses. In agricultural areas, Springhare can be considered a pest due to their destructive feeding on crops.
Springhare taxidermy is the art of preserving the Springhare skin and other body parts to produce lifelike sculptures for display, either at home as a hunting trophy or in museums for educational purposes. Skin is preserved and mounted on an artificial armature to display the specimen.
The contemporary English word “taxidermy” is derived from the Greek terms taxis, meaning “movement,” and derma, meaning “skin,” thereby combining these two meanings. This is why, in a broad sense, taxidermy is synonymous with “the motion of skin.”
For expert taxidermists, skills in sculpture, painting, and sketching are just as important as those in carpentry, woodworking, tanning, moulding, and casting.
The remaining parts of the body are synthetic replacements for real organs and tissues. Polyurethane foam is used for the manikin or form, which includes the anatomy of every muscle and vein; glass is used for the eyes; clay is used for the eyelids; for the nose and mouth the foam of the mannequin is sculptured.
Works of taxidermy can be found in a wide range of environments, including museums, classrooms, galleries, stores, restaurants, and private households, due to the complexity and delicate craftsmanship involved in the taxidermy process.
Thorough preparation is the key factor to ensuring a high-quality final product. All hides are tanned and oiled using the world’s very best available chemicals and processes to ensure permanence and longevity. Forms are selected to ensure the best fit and posture will be altered to suit you, the client’s preference without additional cost. Natural habitat bases are custom-made for full mount trophies without additional cost. Only the finest materials and 40 years of professional experience are used in defining your trophies in a whole new way. The final trophies are almost Life-Formed. When the restoration is required, every effort is made to repair cuts and abrasions, and to minimise bullet damage. Natural scarring is kept unless otherwise requested.
When making an Springhare mount, careful planning is key to getting a high-quality result. When tanning and oiling the skins, only the best chemicals and methods are used. This ensures that the skins will last for many years.
Your preferred form for the Springhare will be chosen after taking your measurements into account, and the posture of your form will be changed at no extra cost. Full-mount Springhare trophies come with bases made to look like the animal’s natural habitat and made just for the Springhare mount.
The taxidermy process at Life-Form takes your prized Springhare trophy and gives it a whole new meaning by using only the best materials and drawing on more than 40 years of experience in the field.
When repair is needed, every effort is made to fix cuts and scrapes and lessen bullet damage. Existing scars are left alone unless the client asks for them to be taken away.
Using the helpful tips below, it’s important to take extra care of your prized Springhare trophy to make sure it stays in perfect shape for years to come.
The pricing of any trophy is subject to the costing stipulated per taxidermy order, quantity of trophies and preferred mounting options, along with additional requirements.
Should you wish to receive a quotation prior to the hunt, the taxidermist can generate such for you. Please contact [email protected]
Taxidermy is an art form that involves a complicated step-by-step process to make sure that each trophy looks just right and is of a high enough quality that it will last your whole life.
The time it takes a taxidermist to mount an animal might range from days to weeks, and possibly several months, depending on the quantity of trophies per taxidermy order, the display preferences, and volumes of client trophies to be produced, simultaneously, per production schedule.
This depends largely on the “what, how, when” factors. A taxidermy order also only becomes available for production scheduling upon receipt of the required deposit and trophy mounting instructions.
