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Scrub hares (Lepus saxatilis) are solitary, nocturnal African lagomorphs known for their zigzag escape runs, blending grey-brown fur, and white-tipped tails, living above ground in shallow scrapes ("forms") under bushes, feeding on grasses and shrubs, and having short gestation (around 42 days) with 1-3 young per litter, facing threats but classified as Least Concern.
Key Facts
Appearance: Grizzled grey-brown fur, white belly, long ears with black tips, and a distinctive black-and-white tail that flashes when running.
Habitat: Found across Southern Africa in grasslands, woodlands, and scrub, preferring areas with cover and open spaces.
Behavior: Primarily nocturnal, they hide in shallow depressions (forms) during the day. They are solitary but may gather to mate.
Defense: Masters of evasion, they use their powerful hind legs and zigzagging sprints to escape predators like jackals, owls, leopards, and caracals.
Diet: Herbivores, eating grasses, leaves, and shrubs, sometimes re-ingesting feces (coprophagy) for nutrition.
Reproduction: Short gestation (approx. 42 days), 1-3 young (leverets) per litter, with several litters possible per year, peaking in rainy seasons. Leverets are independent quickly.
Life Span: Short in the wild (often under a year due to predation), but can reach 5-7 years.
Why they run in zigzags at cars: Headlights can startle them, making them see their own shadow as a predator, causing panicked zigzags as they flee into the dark.
