Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure

Home > Zoo > Animals > H > Hyrax

Fast Facts:

Males have 4 razor sharp tusks they use for defense.
Sweat glands and special muscles in the feet work almost like suction cups for climbing and gripping surfaces.

Rock Hyrax

Scientific Name	Procavia capensis
Classification	Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Hyracoidea Family: Procaviidae
Status	Not listed.
Range	Africa south of the Sahara, Arabia and Middle East
Habitat	Rocky out croppings.
Diet	Vegetarians chiefly grasses, new shoots and fruit
Size	Height: 8-12 inches Length: 12-22 inches Weight: 5-9 pounds
Lifespan	12 yrs.
Location

Special Features

The brownish gray Rock Hyrax has a cream colored underneath. The coat is dense with thick undercoat.
A hairless dorsal patch that covers a gland produces the characteristic odor of the species is surrounded by longer, erectile hairs which are yellow, orange, brown, or black.
They need very little water
Despite being warm-blooded, the rock hyrax is not able to completely regulate its body temperature leaving them subject to changes in the environment.

Social Structure & Behavior

Diurnal, hyrax's live in herds that are broken down into smaller flocks. Adults have over 21 vocalizations used for communication.

Cape hyraxes produce large, communal piles of dung and urine that eventually congeal into a sticky mass. This substance (hyraceum) has been used by humans as a medicine for treating epilepsy, convulsions, and "women's disorders."

Reproduction:
Sexual maturity is 16-18 months. Gestation is 7.5 months resulting in a litter of is 2-3 kits. Weaned in 10 weeks.