Details
Procavia capensis
The rock hyrax is a small herbivorous mammal that lives in colonies on rocky outcrops. It looks rodentlike but belongs to a lineage close to elephants and manatees.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It inhabits Afrotropical and Palearctic rocky hills, savannas, and deserts. Crevices provide refuge, while nearby grass and shrubs provide food.
Length 40-55 cm; weight 1.8-5.4 kg. A rounded body, short ears, and almost hidden tail are typical. Moist, rubbery foot pads help grip rock; fur is grey-brown to tawny.
Diurnal and colonial, it often basks on rocks. Sentinels give alarm calls, and the group rushes into crevices when threatened.
A herbivore, it eats grasses, leaves, shoots, and fruit. In dry areas it relies heavily on moisture-rich plants near rocky shelter.
Females give birth in rocky refuges. Young are born relatively well developed and soon move with the colony.
It is listed as Least Concern. It is prey for many predators, and the availability of rocky cracks is central to colony safety.
