Hyrax

Hyrax Related Category: Vertebrate Zoology (h´rks), name for rabbit-sized mammals of Africa and SW Asia comprising the family Procavidae.

Hyraxes retain a number of early mammalian characteristics; in particular they have poorly developed internal temperature regulation (which they deal with by huddling together for warmth, and by basking in the sun like reptiles).

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Hyraxes are considered to be coprophages - which means that after they get done eating, they ferment the food in their stomach and partially digest it, then excrete it, and ingest it again - much like rabbits do.

Hyraxes have long hairs scattered over their bodies. The hairs probably help orient hyraxes in dark areas and burrows, similar to whiskers. 4.

Cape hyrax, Dassie Procavia capensis A small African mammal which looks like a rodent, but is actually a member of the Afrotheria - related to elephants, sea cows, tenrecs, elephant shrews and the aardvark.

Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis Home Range Sub-Saharan Africa and Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, and Syria ...

The Name "Hyrax": "Hyrax" comes from the Greek "hurax," meaning shrew mouse. Location: Africa south of the Sahara, Arabia and the Middle East. Habitat: Terrestrial, on rocky terrain in savanna and semiarid regions.

Hyraxes, also known as dassies or conies, are jack-rabbit sized animals with short tails and peculiar, 3-toed hind feet with almost hoof-like nails on two of the toes (the inner toe has a claw). The forefeet have 5 toes.

Hyraxes are about the size of rabbits. They have short necks, round heads, and short tails. They have three toes on their hind feet and five on their fore feet. On the first and third toe of their hind feet they have hooves; the middle toe has a claw.

Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) Information on the rock hyrax is currently being researched and written and will appear here... More 23 Images ...

Hyracoidea (Hyraxes). c.*Barypoda (Arsinoitherium). d.*Toxodontia (Toxodon, &c.). e. *Amblypoda (Uintatherium, &c.). f.*Litopterna (Macrauchenia, &c.). g.*Ancylopoda (Chalicotherium, &c.). h. *Condylarthra (Phenacodus, &c.). i.

Proboscideans, like hyraxes and embrithopods, evolved and diversified in Africa during the Paleogene. The oldest proboscidean is a meter-high unnamed animal from the Lower Eocene of Algeria (Mahboubi et al. 1984).

They are picky eaters, and discard the internal organs of the mammals they catch, partially pluck the fur off of hyraxes and larger kills, and avoid eating hair by shearing meat neatly from the skin.

Rock hyraxes are killed very frequently and remains were found in 53% of 200 scats which were examined. Vegetable matter and insect remains have also been found in caracal faeces. Grapes and green grass have been seen inside their stomachs.

The large flat nails of elephants, hyraxes, and sea cows - collectively called the "paenungulates" ("almost ungulates") - were thought to represent an evolutionary intermediate between traditional claw-like nails and true hooves.

Rock hyrax makes up roughly half of their diet. They will also eat some vegetation like grass and grapes. They are agile, and have been known to jump to catch birds.

Characteristics: Caracals will take a wide variety of prey that include small or young antelope, rodents, hares, hyraxes, birds and lizards. Birds are caught while roosting or batted down while flying.

In suitable habitat the Eagle will also take Hyraxes and small Antelope such as Duiker. Prey weighing up to 20kg (44 lb) has been recorded.

The closest relatives to the elephant are the Hyraxes and Sea Cows (dugongs and manatees). Elephants are also related to Horses, Tapirs and Rhinos. Elephant Diet ...

Fossil records suggest that the elephant has some unlikely distant relatives, namely the small, rodentlike hyrax and the ungainly aquatic dugong. They all are thought to have evolved from a common stock related to ungulates.

Active during the day and night, it is mainly terrestrial but prefers areas near water. It feeds on prey such as rodents, hyraxes, small antelopes, and birds, which it usually stalks and kills with a sudden rush.

Most of the Eagles killing is done on the ground, except for the monkey and hyrax. Killing on the ground for the Eagle gives it another advantage, because it has the ability to fly almost vertically to a branch.

guinea pigs, and chinchillas, and formerly including the following order; (11) Lagomorpha, including rabbits, hares, and pikas; (12) Sirenia, including the manatees and dugong; (13) Cetacea, the whales and dolphins; (14) Hyracoidea, the hyraxes; ...

See also: Elephant, Aardvark, Manatee, Shrew, Rabbit