Pedetes capensis; Print; The South African springhare (Pedetes capensis); or springhaas in Afrikaans; is not actually a hare; but a rodent. It is one of two living species in the genus Pedetes; and is native to southern Africa. Formerly; the genus was considered monotypic and the East African springhare (P. surdaster) was included in P. capensis. Though the species look alike at a casual glance; scientific study can easily determine which is which.; 1700-1880