What kind of animal is a spring hare? We will explain its characteristics, ecology, and habitat. Spring hare is a rodent found in southern Africa from Kenya to Angola. It is a very cute rabbit and can be seen quite widely in sub-Saharan Africa.
What is a Flying Rabbit? Basic Stats
Spring hares are rodents classified in the order Rodentia and family Leporidae. Their scientific name is Pedetes capensis, their English name is Spring hare, and their kanji is Jumping Rabbit. Their body length is 35-45cm, their tail length is 37-47cm, and their weight is 4kg. The list of information is as follows.
| Japanese（和名） | トビウサギ |
| English（英名） | Spring hare |
| scientific name(学名) | Pedetes capensis |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、 Rodentia、 Pedetidae、Pedetes 哺乳綱、齧歯目、トビウサギ科、トビウサギ属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | LEAST CONCERN |
| Length（体長） | 35～45cm |
| Weight（体重） | 4kg |
About classification
There are two subspecies of spring hare: the Eastern spring hare (Pedetes capensis) and the Eastern spring hare (Pedetes surdaster).
| Pedetes capensis | It is found in a wide range of areas, including South Africa, Angola, Congo, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. |
| Pedetes surdaster | Distributed in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda |
Habitat
Spring rabbits are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Geographic Distribution (Where are they found?)
Jerking hares are widely distributed throughout the arid regions of Eurasia.
Main Distribution Areas
North Africa (Egypt, Libya, etc.)
Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, etc.)
Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia)
East Asia (Northern China)
👉 They are not naturally found in Japan.
- Habitat Characteristics (What kind of place is it?)
Basic Environment
Desert
Semi-desert
Dry grassland (steppe)
Wasteland/gravely land
Environmental Conditions
Low rainfall
Large temperature difference between day and night
Sparse vegetation
👉 They are well adapted to environments with little water.
- Relationship with Ground/Soil
Ground characteristics are important when selecting a habitat for springhares.
Sandy to slightly hard soil
Burrow digging is essential
Avoid completely shifting sand (sand that moves too much)
- Burrow (Roost)
Dig complex underground burrows
Depth: 50cm to over 1m
May have burrows for specific functions
Resting
Escape
Raising young
👉 To protect themselves from predators and heat/cold conditions, their habitat consists of both aboveground and underground habitats.
- Home Range and Population Density
Nocturnal
Home range per individual is relatively large
Rarely gather in high densities in the same place
What are the characteristics? What kind of creature is it?
As its name suggests, flying rabbits have the habit of jumping up. They have large hind legs, long hair on their tails, thick necks, and large round eyes. They are similar to kangaroos in that they hop on their hind legs. Flying rabbits are sometimes active during the day, but are nocturnal and often rest in holes they dig in the ground during the day. They can dig holes with the long claws on their front legs to protect themselves from predators. Flying rabbits have excellent senses of smell, hearing, and vision, and can detect the approach of predators in advance. Their backs are covered with reddish brown fur, and their bellies are covered with white fur.
- Appearance (Very Unique)
Body Shape
Body Length: 5-15cm (Depending on Species)
Tail: Longer than Body Length (For Balance)
Hin Legs: Abnormally Long (Specialized for Jumping)
Front Legs: Short, Only for Preying
👉 When Standing, They Look Like Mini-Kangaroos.
Face
Round Face
Large Eyes (Nocturnal)
Large Ears (Heat Dissipation + Hearing)
- Movement (Significant Characteristic)
Jumping Movement
Basically Jumps on Two Legs
Can Jump 1-3m in a Single Jump
Good at Sudden Changes in Direction
👉 To Escape Predators (Owls, Foxes) in the Desert
- Personality/Temperament (What’s It Like?)
Very Timid
Sensitive to Sounds and Vibrations
Generally Solitary
Almost Non-Aggressive
👉 Their Best Defense is “Quick Escape”
- Life Rhythm
Completely nocturnal
Day: Rest in underground burrows
Night: Emerging above ground to feed and move
Due to the dangers of desert life during the day,
they are active only at night.
- Diet (What do they eat?)
Seeds
Grass shoots
Insects (small amounts)
Water
Do not drink water directly
Obtain water from food
Recycle water using highly efficient kidneys
- Intelligence/Senses
Hearing: Excellent hearing (can even detect the sound of wings)
Vision: Good at surviving in the dark
Memory: Accurately identifies the location of their burrows
What is their ecology?
Flying rabbits live by eating grass roots, bulbs, stems, seeds, etc. The gestation period is 80 days, and they can give birth to one baby at a time. They are said to live for about 10 years.
- Daily Life Rhythm (Behavioral Ecology)
Day
Rests in underground burrows
Protects from desert heat and predators
Temperature and humidity inside burrows are more stable than above ground
Night
Emerges after sunset
Feeding, migration, and breeding
Returns to burrows before dawn
👉 Completely nocturnal. Almost never emerges above ground during the day.
- Feeding Ecology (What and How They Eat)
Diet
Seeds
Grass shoots and leaves
Small insects (supplementary)
Characteristics of Feeding
Deftly holds food with their front legs
Eats and moves quickly, without moving more than necessary
- Relationship with Water (Critical to Desert Adaptation)
Does not drink water directly
Survives solely on the moisture in food
Highly efficient kidneys
→ Extremely concentrated urine
→ Minimizes water loss
👉 This is one of the best water-saving abilities among desert mammals.
- Locomotion and Home Range
Locomotion
Bipedal hopping is the norm
1-3m per hop
Zigzag hopping to avoid predators
Home Range
Relatively large per individual
Does not stay in the same place for long periods of time
- Burrow Habits (Survival Base)
Burrow Structure
Depth: 50cm-1m or more
May have multiple entrances and exits
Used for Different Purposes:
Rest
Escape
Breeding and Rearing
👉 Burrows are a “home + fortress.”
- Sociality (Do they form groups?)
Generally solitary
Weak territorial awareness
Interactions increase only during breeding season
👉 They do not form groups, but their habitats may overlap.
- Breeding Biology
Breeding Frequency: Once to several times per year (depending on the environment)
Gestation Period: Approximately 25 to 40 days
Birthing occurs deep inside the burrow
Baby offspring are born immature and grow within the burrow.
👉 Breeding success is higher in years with abundant rainfall and food.
Do they have any natural enemies?
The natural enemies of flying rabbits are servals, caracals, and jackals.
About Baby Spring Hare
This article focuses on baby spring hare (Jerboa), focusing on their appearance, behavior, and survival strategies from birth to development.
- Characteristics at Birth
Birth Size: Approximately 2-6 pups (varies by species and environment)
Immediately after birth
Eyes are closed
Almost no body hair
Hin legs are still short
Completely helpless (immature)
👉 They are so weak at first that it’s hard to imagine they could survive in the desert.
- Location of Birth and Rearing
Birth in an underground breeding burrow
The burrow is deeper than others, providing protection from predators and heat.
The mother forages outside and periodically returns to nurse.
👉 Baby never emerges above ground.
- Developmental Steps
Around 1 week old
Exclusively breastfed
Depends on mother for body temperature regulation
Crys to call mother
2-3 weeks old
Fur begins to grow
Eyes open
Rapid growth of hind legs
Around 1 month old
Practices walking and jumping within the den
Begins nibbling on solid food (seeds, etc.)
5-7 weeks old
Ventures outside the den for short periods
Capable of short-distance jumps
Around 2 months old
Fully weaned
Spends with mother at night
Becoming independent
- Behavioral Characteristics of Young Animals
Highly sensitive to sound and vibration
Sleep together in the back of the den
Jumping play using hind legs (practice)
👉 Play = survival skill training.
- Mother-infant relationship
Mother alone cares for young
Father not involved
Rapid distance increases after weaning
👉 No long-term family relationships are formed.
- Risks in Pups
Den collapse
Death of mother
Food shortages due to extreme dryness
Predators (especially snakes)
👉 Pup mortality is relatively high.
Are spring hares an endangered species?
Spring hares are often considered pests that damage agricultural crops such as potatoes, corn, and wheat, and are therefore exterminated. In their habitat, they are sometimes eaten for meat. However, they are not an endangered species.
- Springhare is Not Just One Species
“Springhare” is not a single animal, but a collective term for many species in the family Dipodidae.
Two-legged Springhare
Three-toed Springhare
Pygmy Springhare, etc.
→ Dozens of species exist.
As a result, endangered status is assessed on a species-by-species basis.
- International Assessment (IUCN Red List)
Many Springhare Species
LC (Least Concern)
Wide distribution and relatively stable populations
👉 Because they are adapted to desert and semi-desert environments with little human impact.
Some Species Require Caution ⚠️
The following species are also classified as:
VU (Vulnerable)
EN (Endangered).
Main Reasons for the Increased Danger
Very Narrow Distribution
Limited to Certain Deserts and Regions
Habitat Destruction Due to Agricultural Land Development and Irrigation
Burrow Destruction Due to Livestock Grazing
- Why Haven’t Many Species Remained Extinct?
Jerking rabbits are surprisingly resilient to environmental changes.
Body Types Specialized for Dry Lands
Physiological Functions that Do Not Require Water
Nocturnal and Underground Living
Relatively High Reproductive Capacity
→ The More Inhospitable Places They Are, the Easier They Are to Survive
This is why so many species have survived.
Can spring hares be kept as pets?
Spring hares are sometimes kept as pets, and it is possible to keep them as pets. You can keep them as long as you have the same equipment as a normal rabbit.
Selling price
The selling price seems to be around 200,000 to 400,000 yen. There is a fair amount of circulation.
Breeding environment
Because flying rabbits have a habit of jumping, their cages need to be quite large. It is difficult to raise them without a fairly large garden. It is a little difficult to keep them in an ordinary house.
Feeding
Flying rabbits are omnivorous, eating plant roots and stems, fruits, insects, arthropods, etc. They can also eat rice, potatoes, and corn.
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