Scrub hare, wide-eyed

Keen eyesight and hearing are vital for those qualifying as delicacies on menus of many predators. If size matters, those attributes are in place here. Breeding prolifically, running fast, observing keenly and hiding effectively in local colour camouflage are key for survival in scrub hare world.

The scrub hare remains motionless during bright daylight, often in a hollow scraped for the purpose. They are rarely spotted by predators and tourists as long as they sit still, (mostly) matching their environment.

The scrub hare or in Afrikaans kolhaas (spot hare), scientifically known as Lepus saxatilis, is endemic to southern Africa. It lives in grassland and on farms, avoiding forest and desert.

The fur on its back is grey-grizzled from small black spots; below it is white. There are pale rings around the eyes and a characteristic red-brown patch behind the ears. The tail is stubby, black above and white below. The ears are long, often perched up, here down over its back, intent upon the click of the camera.

A running kolhaas is all ears and bobbing white tail. Body size varies much: its mass ranging between 1,5 kg to 4,5 kg, which is high compared to most animals. These differences are associated with geographic distribution where much diversity in vegetation and food availability occurs.

The female is larger, but comparison is difficult as they live alone outside the breeding season. It is also harder to see them in action as they forage at night, eating mainly grass (Wikipedia).