Pronolagus rupestris
| Smith's red rock hare | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Lagomorpha |
| Family: | Leporidae |
| Genus: | Pronolagus |
| Species: | P. rupestris |
| Binomial name | |
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Pronolagus rupestris (A. Smith, 1834) |
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| Smith's Red Rock Hare range | |
Smith's red rock hare (Pronolagus rupestris) is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It is found in Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.
In Swahili, its name is sungura mwekundu or kitengule.
The number of accepted subspecies has ranged from zero to eight. One classification from the 1940s accepted the following subspecies:
Another classification from the 1980s had the following subspecies; differences came from moving whitei to P. randensis, including fitzsimonsi, and treating mulleri as a synonym of australis:
Mammal Species of the World lists the following five subspecies:
A paper looking at mitochondral DNA argued that P. r. curryi is the only non-nominate subspecies.
Mammals of Africa doesn't recognize any subspecies and rather that curryi, fitzsimonsi, melanurus, mülleri, nyikae, and vallicola are all just synonyms of P. rupestris.
Smith's red rock hare has a warm brown back, grey ears and dark brown tail. The under fur is soft and white. The claws and digits are short. The head and body together measure 350mm-495mm.
This species' diet usually comprises grasses (such a sprouting grass), and herbs. They live on rocky slopes and tops of rocky outcrops.
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Wikipedia