NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Division : HYSTRICOMORPHA 



Family : HYSTRICID^E 



(Porcupines) 



Stoutly built rodent animals covered with large spines. Fore 

 and hind limbs of nearly equal length. Front of the skull broad 

 and short. Nasal cavity specially large ; in the New World group 

 the molar teeth are fully rooted, the upper lip undivided, collar 

 bone complete and the soles of the hind feet are covered with 

 tubercles. 



In the Old World members of the family, the molar teeth are 

 only partially rooted, collar bones incomplete and soles of the 

 hind feet are smooth. 



There are a number of species of Porcupines grouped under 

 this family. They inhabit America, Southern Europe, Asia and 

 Africa. 



South African species 

 I. Hystrix africes-australis, Pet. South African Porcupine. 



Sub-order : DUPLICIDENTATA 

 Family : LEPORIDJE 

 (Hares and Rabbits') 



Rodent animals with elongated hind limbs, long ears, short 

 curved tails, thick fur. Eyes large and devoid of eyelids. 



The collar bone is imperfect, frontal part of the skull very 

 narrow ; three pairs, of premolars in the upper jaw and two in 

 the lower jaw. 



South African species 



I. Lepus capensis typicus, Linn. The Cape Hare. 

 z. Lepus capensis centralis, Thos. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), 

 xii. p. 344 (1903). 



3. Lepus capensis granti, Thos. and Schw. P.Z.S., 1904, i. 



p. 182. 



4. Lepus capensis aquilo, Thos. and Wrought. P.Z.S., 1907, 



p. 297. 



5. Lepus saxatilis typicus, Cuv. The Rock Hare. 



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