Pedetes
| Springhare | |
|---|---|
| |
| South African springhare(P. capensis) | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Pedetidae |
| Genus: | Pedetes Illiger,1811 |
| Type species | |
| Yerbua capensis | |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
Pedetesis agenusofrodent,thespringhares,in the familyPedetidae.[3]Members of the genus are distributed across southern and Eastern Africa.
Species
[edit]A number of species both extant and extinct are classified in the genusPedetes.They include:
- South African springhareorspringhaas(Pedetes capensis)
- East African springhare(Pedetes surdaster)
- Pedetes laetoliensis(Davies, 1987)(Pliocenefossil)[4]
Throughout the 20th century, the living species (and occasionally the prehistoric one) were merged intoP. capensis,making the genusmonotypic.[5][6]
Ecology
[edit]These rodents are generallynocturnaland sleep through the day in burrows they dig. They feed on foliage, roots and other vegetable matter, and occasionallyarthropods.Outside the burrow they usually move around by hopping on their hind legs.
When only one springhare species was recognized, it was listed as vulnerable by theIUCNin 1996 due to an approximately 20% decrease in the population over the previous ten years. This has been caused by intense hunting and the loss of habitat. However, the negative trend has not persisted, and both species are now listed as Species of Least Concern. The coat of these rodents is known to glow a fluorescent color when viewed under black light.[7]
Vocalisations
[edit]This rodent has a range of vocalizations at its disposal. They can grunt and pleat. They also have a piping contact call.[8]
See also
[edit]- Hopping mouse– a similarmuridrodent native to Australia; an example ofparallel evolution
- Jerboa– a similardipodidrodent native to northern Africa and Asia
- Jumping mouse– a non-desert-dwellingdipodidrodent native to China and North America
- Kangaroo mouseandkangaroo rat– similarheteromyidrodents of North America
- Kultarr– an unrelatedmarsupialwith a similar body plan and coloration; an example ofconvergence
References
[edit]- ^McKenna, M.C. and Bell, S.K. 1997. Classification of Mammals: Above the species level. New York: Columbia University Press, 631 pp.ISBN978-0-231-11013-6(p. 185)
- ^"Fossilworks: Pedetes".fossilworks.org.Retrieved17 December2021.
- ^Wilson, D. E.;Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005).Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference(3rd ed.).Johns Hopkins University Press.ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0.OCLC62265494.
- ^Fossil Pedetidae (Rodentia) from Laetoli. Leakey, M.D.; Harris, J.M.[Eds]. Laetoli. A Pliocene site in northern Tanzania., Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York etc., 1987: i-xxii, 1-561. Chapter pagination: 171-190. [Zoological Record Volume 124]
- ^Matthee, C. A. & Robinson, T. J. (1997). "Mitochondrial DNA phylogeography and comparative cytogenetics of the springhare,Pedetes capensis(Mammalia: Rodentia) ".Journal of Mammalian Evolution.4(1): 53–73.doi:10.1023/A:1027331727034.S2CID27652899.
- ^Matthee, C. A. & Robinson, T. J. (1997)."Molecular phylogeny of the springhare,Pedetes capensis,based on mitochondrial DNA sequences ".Molecular Biology and Evolution.14(1): 20–29.doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a025698.PMID9000750.
- ^Giaimo, Cara (18 February 2021)."TrilobitesMeet the Newest Member of the Fluorescent Mammal ClubThe springhare — whose coat glows a patchy pinkish-orange under UV light — joins the platypus and other mammals with this perple xing trait.By Cara Giaimo".The New York Times.Retrieved2021-02-18.
- ^Kingdon, Jonathan (2015).The Kingdon field guide to African mammals(Second ed.). London.ISBN978-1-4729-2531-2.OCLC907676449.
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