Cape Hyrax
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| Cape Hyrax | ||||||||||||||
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| Procavia capensis (Pallas, 1766) |
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 Range map
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The Cape Hyrax, or Rock Hyrax, (Procavia capensis) is a species in the order Hyracoidea. Like all hyraxes, it superficially resembles a guinea pig with short ears and tail. They are known as dassies in South Africa. The Swahili names for them are pimbi, pelele and wibari, though the latter two names are nowadays reserved for the tree hyraxes. This species has many subspecies, many of which are known as Cape Hyrax or Rock Hyrax, although the latter usually refers to African varieties.
The rock badger is said by the Jews to be not kosher, and therefore may not be eaten under any circumstances. The rock badger's name in Hebrew literally translates to "mountain bunny."
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[edit] Physical description and lifestyle
The skull of the Cape Hyrax has a pair of long tusk-like incisors and molars that resemble rhinoceros' molars. The forefeet are plantigrade, and the hindfeet semi-digitigrade. The soles of the feet have large, soft pads that are kept moist with sweat-like secretions. Male hyraxes are slightly larger than females.
Cape Hyrax give birth to two or three young after a 6-7 month gestation period. The young are well-developed at birth with fully-opened eyes and complete pelage. Young can ingest solid food after two weeks and are weaned at ten weeks. Young are sexually mature after 16 months, reach adult size at three years, and typically live about ten years.
Hyraxes live in herds of up to 80 individuals. These herds are subdivided into smaller flocks consisting of a few families and headed by an adult male. Hyraxes spend most of their time resting in large huddles or basking alone. These behaviors probably serve to help regulate body temperature as hyraxes' body temperature fluctuates with ambient temperature (i.e. they are not strictly homeothermic).
Cape Hyraxes have been jokingly referred to as "Shawarma Bears," a reference to their size and shape, which is very similar to that of the Middle Eastern food Shawarma.
[edit] Cape Hyraxes and medical treatment
Cape Hyraxes produce large quantities of hyraceum (sticky mass of dung and urine) that has been employed by people in the treatment of several medical disorders, including epilepsy and convulsions.
[edit] Relationship to Elephants
Hyraxes are widely stated to be the closest living relatives of elephants. This is not so. Though both are within the cohort of mammals known as Afrotheria, the Hyrax is not the closest living relative of the elephant. Elephants (Proboscidea) and hyraxes (Hyracoidae) are both more closely related to manatees and dugongs (Sirenia) than they are to one another.[2]
[edit] Gallery
 A Hyrax in Hermanus. |
 A Hyrax demonstrating its rock climbing prowess. |
 Hyraxes will readily come into car parks and such areas adjacent to rural areas. |
 A Cape Hyrax basking on Table Mountain, Cape Town. |
[edit] References
- ^ Barry et al (2006). Procavia capensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- ^ Kemp, T.S., 2005 The Origin and Evolution of Mammals, Oxford University Press, at 252-253; citing Asher et al., 2003, 'Relationships of endemic African mammals and their fossil relatives based on morphological and molecular evidence', Journal of Mammalian Evolution 10: 131 - 194
[edit] External links
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