Habitat Use by the Southern Springhare (Pedetes capensis) in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

The habitat and dietary preferences of the southern springhare, Pedetes capensis, were investigated on a farm in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The farm comprised a variety of habitat types and was typical of the greater range occupied by springhares in this region. Springhares preferred short grass (Cynodon dactylon and Cyperus esculentus)dominated habitats found in recently disturbed or cultivated areas. These provide a suitable environment for predator detection and avoidance, and provide an abundant, good quality, stable food supply throughout the year. Stomach contents and springhare feeding patches confirmed that in addition to leaf material,C. dactylon rhizomes and C. esculentus tubers are heavily utilized. C. esculentus abundance was significantly positively correlated with springhare densities. Springhares avoided fields in which chicory (Cichorium intybus) was cultivated and no evidence of them feeding on chicory roots or leaves was found

Burrow utilization by springhares (Pedetes capensis) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

The use of burrows by springhares was investigated in the Eastern Cape, South Africa using radio telemetry. Springhares utilized 4–27 different burrows scattered over areas ranging from 0.6–28.5 ha, with maximum distances of 170–1000 m between burrows. Springhares frequently changed burrows, seldom spending more than a few consecutive days in each, unless rearing young. The number of burrows used by individuals was correlated with the length of time they were tracked and, even after a year, some individuals were still occupying burrows previously unused by them. Males and females did not differ significantly in the mean number of burrows used, the mean area over which these were distributed, or the mean maximum distance between burrows. Springhares were generally solitary and occupied burrows were, with few exceptions, apparently avoided by conspecifics.Keywords: springhares, Pedetes capensis, burrow utilization, burrow distributio

Burrow Utilization by Springhares (Pedetes Capensis) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

The use of burrows by springhares was investigated in the Eastern Cape, South Africa using radio telemetry. Springhares utilized 4–27 different burrows scattered over areas ranging from 0.6–28.5 ha, with maximum distances of 170–1000 m between burrows. Springhares frequently changed burrows, seldom spending more than a few consecutive days in each, unless rearing young. The number of burrows used by individuals was correlated with the length of time they were tracked and, even after a year, some individuals were still occupying burrows previously unused by them. Males and females did not differ significantly in the mean number of burrows used, the mean area over which these were distributed, or the mean maximum distance between burrows. Springhares were generally solitary and occupied burrows were, with few exceptions, apparently avoided by conspecifics

Metabolism and Thermoregulation in the Springhare (Pedetes capensis).

Springhares are large, nocturnally active, diurnally fossorial rodents that typically inhabit arid and semi-arid areas. This lifestyle means that they need to balance excessive heat loss when foraging at night against insufficient heat loss in a potentially warm, humid burrow and both of these against the need to minimize water turnover and energy requirements. In this study we investigated metabolism and thermoregulation in these animals. Basal metabolic rate averaged 8.62±1.37 J g -1 h -1 and minimum thermal conductance 0.386±0.062 J g -1 h -1 °C -1. These were higher and lower than expected, respectively. This, along with a relatively low, lower critical temperature and broad thermal neutral zone indicate that springhares are physiologically well suited to the low night-time temperatures, which they typically encounter. Body temperatures were quite labile but springhares became hyperthermic at temperatures above 30 °C suggesting that they are poor thermoregulators at high temperatures. This is attributed to their seldom, if ever, encountering temperatures in this range. Insufficient heat loss under normal resting conditions does not appear to be a problem, as springhares inhabit deep burrows in which the temperature never exceeds the upper critical temperature. Excess heat generated during vigorous underground exercise is presumably stored and dissipated to the cool night air or the cooler soil when subsequently resting. Water turnover and energy expenditure are presumably adequately addressed by other physiological and behavioural characteristics

Activity Patterns of Springhares, Pedetes Capensis, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

The activity patterns of springhares Pedetes capensis (Rodentia: Pedetidae) from the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, were investigated by counting the number of springhares active above ground at regular intervals throughout the night at different times of the year and under different weather conditions and phases of the moon. A combination of time of year, time of night and level of illumination best explained springhare activity, accounting for 43% of the variation in springhare numbers. Springhare activity generally reached its peak soon after dark, thereafter remaining fairly constant throughout most of the night and only decreasing in the 2–4-h period before sunrise. On those nights when the moon either rose or set during the night, this pattern was modified by the level of illumination. Springhares responded to moonlight by reducing above-ground activity, shifting activity to dark, moonless periods of the night, and by reducing their use of open space. Except for extremes, other weather conditions had no significant effect on springhare activity