Editing South African springhare (section)

== Characteristics ==
[[Image:SpringhaasSkelLyd.jpg|thumb|South African springhare skeleton]]
The springhare resembles a small [[kangaroo]] with well-developed hind legs, short front legs, and a long tail which comprises half of its body length. As well as a long tail, springhares have relatively large eyes and ears.<ref name="Butynski-1973" /> Adults can attain {{cvt|80|cm}} in length (including the tail) and weigh an average of {{cvt|2.5-3.5|kg}}.<ref name=":0" /> Similar to kangaroos, they are also [[Glossary of entomology terms#saltatorial|saltatorial]] animals who use their tails for balance. Springhares are reported to be able to make hops of {{cvt|20|cm}} and leaps of {{cvt|2|m}}.<ref name="Butynski-1973" />

Springhares have long, soft fur, which shortens around the legs, heads, and ears.<ref name="Butynski-1973" /> The colour of this mammal varies from a reddish-brown on its upperparts to an off-white belly and a black tip on the tail.<ref name="Stuart-2007">{{Cite book|last1=Stuart|first1=Chris|title=Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa|last2=Stuart|first2=Tilde|publisher=Struik Nature|year=August 2007|pages=100 |isbn=978-1-77007-404-0 |edition=4}}</ref> Sometimes the ear tips are also black.<ref name="Kingdon-2015" /> Young springhares have finer and fluffier fur and usually have black patches of fur under their hind feet and in a patch of black under their tail base.<ref name="Butynski-1973" />

Springhares have a different number of toes on their forelegs and hindlegs. Their short forelegs have five digits, each ending in a long, sharp, curved claw, which can be 16 millimetres long. their long hindlegs have four digits, three of which are visibly developed and equipped with a strong triangular nail.<ref name="Kingdon-2015" /><ref name="Butynski-1973" /><ref name="Stuart-2007" />

The oldest recorded individual was 88 months (7 years and 4 months) old.<ref name="Michael-2000" />

=== Biofluorescence ===
Springhare fur is [[biofluorescence|biofluorescent]].<ref name="Olson-2021">{{Cite journal|last1=Olson|first1=Erik R.|last2=Carlson|first2=Michaela R.|last3=Ramanujam|first3=V. M. Sadagopa|last4=Sears|first4=Lindsay|last5=Anthony|first5=Sharon E.|last6=Anich|first6=Paula Spaeth|last7=Ramon|first7=Leigh|last8=Hulstrand|first8=Alissa|last9=Jurewicz|first9=Michaela|last10=Gunnelson|first10=Adam S.|last11=Kohler|first11=Allison M.|date=2021-02-18|title=Vivid biofluorescence discovered in the nocturnal Springhare (Pedetidae)|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83588-0|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=11|issue=1|page=4125|doi=10.1038/s41598-021-83588-0|pmid=33603032| pmc=7892538|bibcode=2021NatSR..11.4125O|issn=2045-2322}}</ref> Their biofluorescence is patchy, with areas important to grooming and intra-specific interactions being the most biofluorescent. Little is known about its biofluorescence, but both species of springhare are the first thoroughly documented cases of biofluorescence in an [[Old World]] [[eutheria]]n mammal.<ref name="Olson-2021" />

=== Regeneration ===
In a study of ear regeneration in mammals, springhares were found to have the capacity for minimal ear tissue regeneration. This regeneration is far behind to that of [[European rabbit|rabbits]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=C|first=Williams-Boyce, P K Daniel, J|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/677566422|title=Comparison of ear tissue regeneration in mammals.|journal=Journal of Anatomy|date=December 1986|volume=149|pages=55–63|pmid=3693110|pmc=1261633|oclc=677566422}}</ref>