Poelagus marjorita
Bunyoro rabbit

Poelagus marjorita is an exclusively African species with major populations concentrated in southern Uganda. In addition, P. marjorita has a distribution as far west as Angola and as far east as Sudan. Other scattered populations of Uganda grass-hares are found directly north of Lake Victoria along the Uganda river basin. (Kingdon, 1974; "African Mammals Databank: Poelagus marjorita ", 1997)

Grasslands and low scrublands are the preferred habitat of grass-hares. The region in which P. marjorita lives has a variable climate, where there are both rainy and an extended dry seasons each year. Tall grasses thrive during the rainy season but are not abundant during the dry. This cyclic variance in grassland production directly effects P. marjorita because tall grasses are what this species depends upon for both sustenance and concealment from its predators. The Ugandan region is dominated by savanna-like grasslands and scattered undergrowth. The soil is rocky with fissures and crags in the ground. This environment is similar to others within the Great Rift Valley. Due to the arid conditions of the region, the habitat of P. marjorita is subject to annual to bi-annual brush fires. (Kingdon, 1974; United Nations Environment Program, 1984)

Uganda grass-hares physically resemble domestic rabbits, which is reflected in its colloquial name, Bunyoro rabbit. This species has relatively short ears and truncated limbs when compared to other Leporidae. These animals weigh between 2 and 3 kg. The hind-foot measures 90 to 100 mm; the tail, 45 to 50 mm; and the ears only 60 to 65 mm. P. marjorita has a grayish brown surface pelage, with a cotton-white coloration on the underside. (Vaughan, et al., 2000; Kingdon, 1974; Vaughan, et al., 2000)

The genitals of male and female P. marjorita are identical in appearance due to identical sac-like glands found just behind the testes and rounded tufts of hair that cover male scrota and occur in the same place in females. When the penis is retracted, males and females are difficult to distinguish. (Kingdon, 1974)

Mating in this species appears to be polygynandrous, with both males and females taking multiple mates. P. marjorita is an induced ovulator and will become sexually active after weaning the last of her current litter. (Kingdon, 1974; "African Mammals Databank: Poelagus marjorita ", 1997)

Male grass-hares mate with many different females from within their territory. In addition, they will aggressively chase away other males in the area, and will chase down females when they chemically communicate their sexual availability. Females will allow multiple males to mate with her if they are successful in chasing her down. (Kingdon, 1974)

P. marjorita breeds throughout the year. Females are induced to ovulate through the act of copulation. The gestation period is from 4 to 6 weeks, with one or two offspring produced per litter. These young are weaned between 3 and 6 weeks of age, and become independent at about the time of weaning. Sexual maturity is reached around the age of 3 months in both sexes. (Kingdon, 1974)

After mating, the female constructs a nest under thick undergrowth or in a cave or crag which is then lined with fur and grass. Males contribute no care or protection to the young. Gestation takes about five weeks, and after that period of time, one to two highly altricial young are born. Most Leporidae give birth to highly developed offspring which can run minutes after birth, but P. marjorita is an exception. P. marjorita are blind, hairless and immobile at birth. The young are nursed for nearly five weeks and it is common for the female to become pregnant again before the young are weaned. Female P. marjorita will allow the older young to accompany them when they forage at night. The female does not guard her progeny, but will return from foraging to clean the litter and nurse the young. (Kingdon, 1974; Vaughan, et al., 2000)

Wild grass-hares commonly live up to four years in the wild, although it is unlikely to find older individuals due to predation. The average mortality for P. marjorita occurs before or at the age three and a half years, although individuals in captivity have lived to be up to twelve years of age. (Kingdon, 1974)

Little is known about the behavior of these animals. They are nocturnal or crepuscular. Like other members of the family Leporidae, these animals live on the ground and are specialized for hopping. Males are aggressive and territorial. (Kingdon, 1974)

P. marjorita generally will have a home range of ten to twenty square meters, depending on the availability of food and nesting ground

Like other Lagomorphs, scent marking and touch are important intra-specific means of communication. P. marjoita is known to flash the white of its tail to indicate a threat to other members of its species. Vocalizations have not been reported for these animals. (Kingdon, 1974)

This species subsists on short grasses, shrubs, forbs and tubers. P. marjorita will consume flowering buds, growing shoots and is known to re-ingest its own feces to extract additional nutrients from them. (Kingdon, 1974)

P. marjorita is an important prey species for many Ugandan raptors, including owls, hawks and eagles. Genetta tigrina and Genetta servalina are two of the most common predators of grass-hares, although baboons and cats are known to consume them as well. (Kingdon, 1974)

Uganda grass-hares, as browsers and grazers, are much like miniature-ungulates. Because populations are reasonably high in the Uganda area, they serve as an important prey species for cursorial and aviary predators. (Kingdon, 1974)

An unlikely association that P. marjorita has formed is a close dependance on buffalo. Buffalo are heavy browsers and tend to convert tall grassland into lower grazing meadows. It is in this habitat that P. marjorita is best suited and small groups of these hares can be seen browsing besides these large bovids. (Kingdon, 1974)

These animals are not known to be of any economic importance to humans.

These hares have not been reported to affect human economies adversely.

Kingdon speculates that with increasing human agricultural expansion in the Uganda region, the grasslands and scrub-lands on which P. marjorita depends will soon disappear. Encroaching human populations will endow an invariably negative effect on the hare populations. There is no record of this species on the IUCN,CITES, or US Federal concervation websites. (Kingdon, 1974)