The South African springhare (Pedetes capensis) (Afrikaans: springhaas) is a medium-sized terrestrial and burrowing rodent.

[5][6] Springhares live throughout semi-arid areas in southern Africa, preferentially in sandy plains and pans with short grasses.

[7] In agricultural areas, springhares can be considered a pest due to their destructive feeding on crops.

[11] The generic name Pedetes comes from the Greek Πηδητές (Pidités), meaning "leaper or dancer".

[14] Originally named as Yerbua capensis by Johann Reinhold Forster in 1778, using a genus that was applied to kangaroos in the previous year by Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann,[15] the species (at the time considered monotypic, since the East African springhare was not identified until 1902) was renamed to Dipus cafer by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1788, placing it in the jerboa family.

[8] Adults can attain 80 cm (31 in) in length (including the tail) and weigh an average of 2.5–3.5 kg (5.5–7.7 lb).

[8] 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.

their long hindlegs have four digits, three of which are visibly developed and equipped with a strong triangular nail.

[21][9] The front claws loosen soil from the burrow wall while the teeth cut through roots.

When the pile of loosened soil is large enough, the springhare turns around, and with its chin, chest and front feet held up against the pile, it pushes the soil to the entrance with thrusts of the hind feet.Burrows are often located near trees or shrubs, which are sparse in the typical springhare habitat.

[21] The springhare's unoccupied burrows are sometimes used for hiding during the daytime by a number of other species, including the black-footed cat and the ground pangolin.

[10] Springhares are herbivorous, eating a variety of plant matter, such as roots, stems, leaves, and seeds.

[17] Their ability to reproduce year-round is thought to be attributable to their highly selective diet (choosing only the best parts of the plant), their wide range of foods available to them (above and underground), and their behavioural and physical adaptations to living in arid and semi-arid conditions.

[8][21] The extended period of parental care may help mitigate a birthrate that is, among rodents, remarkably low.

The tail provides sinew for sewing, and an ornamental belt that produces sounds can be made by tying springhare toes on a string.