Pedetes
A genus of African rodents known for hopping and glowing fur.
Pedetes is a genus of rodents known as springhares, belonging to the family Pedetidae. These animals are found in southern and Eastern Africa. The genus contains several species, both living and extinct, including the South African springhare (Pedetes capensis), the East African springhare (Pedetes surdaster), and the Pliocene fossil Pedetes laetoliensis. However, the assignment of P. laetoliensis to Pedetes is not universally accepted; some authorities place it in a different genus or consider it incertae sedis. For much of the 20th century, the living species were grouped together as a single species, P. capensis, making the genus monotypic; the prehistoric species was never lumped with the extant forms.
Springhares are nocturnal, spending the day asleep in burrows they dig. Their diet consists of leaves, roots, and other plant material, with occasional arthropods. Outside their burrows, they typically move by hopping on their hind legs. When only one springhare species was recognized, it was listed as vulnerable by the IUCN in 1996 due to a roughly 20% population decline over the previous decade, driven by intense hunting and habitat loss. However, this negative trend did not continue, and both living species are now classified as Least Concern. Their fur glows a fluorescent color under black light.
These rodents produce a variety of sounds, including grunts, bleats, and a piping contact call.
- field
- Rodent taxonomy
- known_for
- Nocturnal hopping rodents with fluorescent coats
- distribution
- Southern and Eastern Africa
- family
- Pedetidae
- conservation_status
- Least Concern (both extant species)
Lore & Background
Pedetes is a genus of rodent, the springhares, in the family Pedetidae. Members of the genus are distributed across southern and Eastern Africa. A number of species both extant and extinct are classified in the genus, including the South African springhare (Pedetes capensis), the East African springhare (Pedetes surdaster), and the Pliocene fossil Pedetes laetoliensis. However, the assignment of P. laetoliensis to Pedetes is not universally accepted; some authorities place it in a different genus or consider it incertae sedis. Throughout the 20th century, the living species were merged into P. capensis, making the genus monotypic; the prehistoric species was never lumped with the extant forms.
Reader's Guide
These rodents are generally nocturnal and sleep through the day in burrows they dig. They feed on foliage, roots and other vegetable matter, and occasionally arthropods. 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 the IUCN in 1996 due to an approximately 20% decrease in the population over the previous ten years, caused by intense hunting and 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. They have a range of vocalizations, including grunts, bleats, and a piping contact call. The genus is noted in comparisons with hopping mice, jerboas, jumping mice, kangaroo rats, and the kultarr as examples of parallel or convergent evolution.
Did You Know?
- The coat of Pedetes rodents glows a fluorescent color under black light.
- They move around by hopping on their hind legs outside the burrow.
- They have a piping contact call in addition to grunts and bleats.
- Both extant species are now listed as Species of Least Concern by the IUCN.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pedetes?
Pedetes is a genus of small African rodents commonly called springhares, classified within the family Pedetidae. They are best recognized as nocturnal, hopping mammals with notably fluorescent coats.
Which species are included in the genus Pedetes?
The genus encompasses the South African springhare (Pedetes capensis), the East African springhare (Pedetes surdaster), and the Pliocene-era fossil Pedetes laetoliensis. For much of the twentieth century, taxonomists lumped the living forms—and sometimes the fossil—into a single species, P. capensis, which made the genus appear monotypic.
What are springhares known for?
Springhares are famous for their distinctive hopping locomotion and their fluorescent fur, which gives them a glowing appearance. They are strictly nocturnal, spending daylight hours asleep in burrows they excavate themselves.
Where can you find springhares in the wild?
Both extant springhare species are native to the grasslands and open habitats of southern and Eastern Africa. Their range spans countries across that broad region, where they dig their characteristic burrow systems.
What is the conservation status of springhares?
Both living species—Pedetes capensis and Pedetes surdaster—are currently listed as Least Concern, indicating they face no immediate threat of extinction. Their wide distribution and adaptable burrowing habits contribute to their stable populations.
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