The young are weaned at 1–5 months of age, and reach sexual maturity at 16–17 months. They also have efficient kidneys, retaining water so that they can better survive in arid environments.įemale hyraxes give birth to up to four young after a gestation period of 7–8 months, depending on the species. Hyraxes have stumpy toes with hoof-like nails four toes are on each front foot and three are on each back foot. Their feet have rubbery pads with numerous sweat glands, which may help the animal maintain its grip when quickly moving up steep, rocky surfaces. Hyraxes inhabit rocky terrain across sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. The hyrax does not construct dens, as most rodents do, but over the course of its lifetime rather seeks shelter in existing holes of great variety in size and configuration. This chewing behaviour may be a form of agonistic behaviour when the animal feels threatened. This behaviour is referred to in a passage in the Bible which describes hyraxes as "chewing the cud". Their mandibular motions are similar to chewing cud, but the hyrax is physically incapable of regurgitation as in the even-toed ungulates and the merycism of some of the macropods. The dental formula for hyraxes is 1.0.4.3 2.0.4.3.Ī hyrax showing its characteristic chewing and grunting behavior and its incisor tusksĪlthough not ruminants, hyraxes have complex, multichambered stomachs that allow symbiotic bacteria to break down tough plant materials, but their overall ability to digest fibre is lower than that of the ungulates. A diastema occurs between the incisors and the cheek teeth. The four lower incisors are deeply grooved "comb teeth".
The two upper incisors are large and tusk-like, and grow continuously through life, similar to those of rodents. Unlike most other browsing and grazing animals, they do not use the incisors at the front of the jaw for slicing off leaves and grass rather, they use the molar teeth at the side of the jaw. Hyraxes retain or have redeveloped a number of primitive mammalian characteristics in particular, they have poorly developed internal temperature regulation, for which they compensate by behavioural thermoregulation, such as huddling together and basking in the sun. 1.1 Similarities with Proboscidea and Sirenia.capensis, which is also found in the Middle East. Their distribution is limited to Africa, except for P. Five extant species are recognised: the rock hyrax ( Procavia capensis) and the yellow-spotted rock hyrax ( Heterohyrax brucei), which both live on rock outcrops, including cliffs in Ethiopia and isolated granite outcrops called koppies in southern Africa the western tree hyrax ( Dendrohyrax dorsalis), southern tree hyrax ( D. Hyraxes have a life span from 9 to 14 years. They are superficially similar to pikas and marmots, but are more closely related to elephants and sea cows. Typically, they measure between 30 and 70 cm (12 and 28 in) long and weigh between 2 and 5 kg (4 and 11 lb). Hyraxes are well-furred, rotund animals with short tails. Hyraxes (from Ancient Greek ὕραξ ( húrax) ' shrewmouse'), also called dassies, are small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea.
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