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Springhare

Pedetes capensis

A big-eyed African rodent that hops like a kangaroo on its long back legs and lives in burrows.

🐭 Rodents
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About the Springhare

Springhares live in dry, sandy areas of southern and eastern Africa, including farm fields. Their bodies are 14 to 18 inches long, with a bushy tail just as long tipped with a black brush. They have long ears, big eyes, short front legs and powerful back legs. They eat mostly grains and plants, plus some beetles and grasshoppers.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Pedetes capensis[1]
Size
Body 14 to 18 inches; tail 15 to 19 inches.[1]
Lifespan
About 13 to 14 years in human care.[1]
Diet
Mostly plants and grains, plus some insects.[1]
Habitat
Dry, sandy areas and farmland.[1]
Where it lives
Southern and eastern Africa.[1]
Group life
Mostly nocturnal. Lives in burrows.[1]
Babies
One baby at a time, several times a year.[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016).[2]

Fun facts

  • Springhares hop like kangaroos.[1]
  • They plug their burrow doors with soil from the inside.[1]
  • Their tails are as long as their bodies.[1]

Vocabulary

rodent
A mammal with front teeth that keep growing, such as squirrels and mice.
burrow
A hole or tunnel dug in the ground by an animal.
hind legs
Back legs.
nocturnal
Active mainly at night.
least concern
A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Sources

  1. [1] Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan. “South African springhare (Pedetes capensis).” https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pedetes_capensis/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Pedetes capensis (Southern African Springhare).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16467/115133584 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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