Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis)
Order-Hyracoidea
Family-Procaviidae
Genus-Procavia
Species-capensis
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HABITAT AND RANGE:
Rock Hyraxes are easily adaptable and
are found in Africa and the Middle East.
Its widest distribution is in East
Africa. They can live at sea levels and
up to altitudes of over 14,000 feet.
They can live in habitats from dry
savannahs to dense rainforests to cold
moorlands. |
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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The Rock Hyrax measures about 12 inches
at the shoulder and weighs between 5 and
9 pounds. They are small, furry mammals
that look like an oversized rabbit with
rounded ears and no tail. The Rock Hyrax
has a yellowish or grayish brown coat
that is dense with a thick underfur.
They have a dorsal spot on their backs,
which is a scent gland surrounded in
longer hair. The nose of the Rock Hyrax
is blunt. They have stumpy toes with
four hoof-like nails on each front foot
and three on each back foot. The longer,
claw-like nails on the inside toes of
the back feet and used for grooming and
scratching. The bottoms of their feet
have a rubbery texture, which helps them
to climb steep rock surfaces and trees. |
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ADAPTATIONS:
Rock Hyraxes live in colonies of about
50 related individuals. The basic family
group consists of one adult territorial
male, several adult female sand their
young. Other males may live in a
bachelor group of their own. Instead of
digging burrows, they live in natural
crevices of rocks or boulders. They are
active in the daytime and can be seen
feeding or sunning themselves near the
entrances to their shelters. Adults have
over 21 different vocalizations for
communication. Vocalizations of the Rock
Hyrax include twitters, growls, whistles
and shrieks. Most of their calls are
done as they ascend or descend trees
during the night. Groups of Hyrax will
also call to other groups. The adult
male is the leader of the group and the
most watchful of the members of the
group. He will often keep guard on a
high rock or branch while the others
feed. He will send out an alarm call
when danger is approaching. |
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DIET: Rock
Hyraxes are vegetarians, feeding on
almost any plant they can find,
including some that are poisonous to
other animals. Their diet consists of
grasses, herbage, leaves and fruits.
They will even eat tree bark and
occasionally, insects and grubs. They
can go a long time without water,
apparently obtaining enough moisture
from their food. |
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REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT:
Gestation lasts six or seven months,
which is unusually long for an animal of
its size. When the female gives birth,
the litter holds between 2 and 4 young.
The eyes of the babies are open and they
have fully developed coats. They eat
solid food after only a few days and are
completely weaned by ten weeks. |
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STATUS IN WILD:
Rock Hyraxes are not threatened in the
wild. |
