About Lepus saxatilis F.Cuvier, 1823
The Cape scrub hare, scientifically named Lepus saxatilis F.Cuvier, 1823, is similar in appearance to the African savanna hare. It has coarse, grizzled gray fur, with gray undersides and white fur on the inner limbs, chin, and chest. An off-white ring circles each of its eyes. Fur is sparse along its ears, which have black tips. The Cape scrub hare’s tail measures 13 to 15 centimetres (5.1 to 5.9 in) in length, and is black on the upper surface and white below. This species is typically larger than the African savanna hare. Adult Cape scrub hares weigh between 3.2 and 4 kilograms (7.1 to 8.8 lb), and females are generally heavier than males. The Cape scrub hare is endemic to southern Africa, where it inhabits southwestern Namibia and the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. Its current recognized range in Namibia and its confirmed absence from southeastern Africa follows taxonomic restrictions applied to the species in 2018. Cape scrub hares are solitary herbivores, though they are sometimes found in pairs.
