(Procavia capensis)
class Mammalia
phylum Chordata
subphylum Vertebrata
order Hyracoidea
family Procavidae.
Shoulder height -
39.5-58 cm
Adult weight -1.8-5.4 kg up to 5 to 9 pounds
Age at sexual maturity - 1.5 years
Lifespan: 12 years
Diet -Grazers and browsers
Mating season - Births during the rainy season
Gestation:
7 months
Habitat: Dry savanna to dense rain forest
Predators: Leopard, pythons, large birds, servals, civets
The rock hyrax is yellow-brown with light underparts and coarse fur.
Hyrax will look for kopje, cliffs, or boulders with numerous cavities that will allow many hyraxes to inhabit the rock free from harm. Hyraxes, like reptiles, have little control of their body heat so in order to warm up they must sunbathe in the morning before the sunlight becomes too hot. If a hyrax is exposed to 70* F for less than 2 hours it can suffer heat stress.
A rock hyrax will travel up to 60 yd in order to find the best food, but without risking its safety.
Social Systems Colonies will consist of a clan of related females accompanied by territorial males and offspring. Kopjes can hold anywhere from 2 to 26 rock hyraxes. Researchers have reported that in less than 1 acre (4000 sq. m) a colony of 3 to 7 females can inhabit this small area. Territories for males average about 1.2 acres (4800 sq. m).
Despite their appearance, the members of this small order are more closely related to the elephants and rhinoceros.
Hyraxes are comparable in size and external appearances to rodents and rabbits. They live in a variety of habitats. Some are found living in trees and others live in colonies with, at times up to 50 members.
They feed on vegetation, insects and grubs.
The skull of a hyrax has 38 teeth. They have a single pair of upper incisors that grow continuously. These incisors are long and curved. The pre-molars resemble the molars and are arranged in a continuous series with the molars. The skull and dentition resembles that of a miniature rhinoceros skull.
Hyrax Skull
