Hyrax

 Procavia Heterohyrax Dendrohyrax

Hyraxes today

Present-day hyraxes retain a number of early mammal 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). Unlike other browsing and grazing animals, they do not have well developed incisors at the front of the jaw for slicing off leaves and grass, and need to use the teeth at the side of the jaw instead. Unlike the even-toed ungulates and some of the macropods, hyraxes do not chew cud to help extract nutrients from coarse, low-grade leaves and grasses. They do, however, have complex, multi-chambered stomachs which allow symbiotic bacteria to break down tough plant materials, and their overall ability to digest fibre is similar to that of the ungulates.

Related Topics:
Even-toed ungulate - Macropod

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• ORDER HYRACOIDEA
• Family Procaviidae
• Genus Procavia: rock hyraxes or dassies
• Abyssinian Hyrax, Procavia habessinicus
• Cape Hyrax, Procavia capensis
• Johnston's Hyrax, Procavia johnstoni
• Kakoveld Hyrax, Procavia welwitschii
• Western Hyrax, Procavia ruficeps
• Genus Heterohyrax: bush hyraxes
• Ahaggar Hyrax, Heterohyrax antineae
• Yellow-spotted Hyrax, Heterohyrax bruceii
• Matadi Hyrax, Heterohyrax chapini
• Genus Dendrohyrax: tree hyraxes
• Eastern Tree Hyrax, Dendrohyrax validus
• Southern Tree Hyrax, Dendrohyrax arboreus
• Western Tree Hyrax, Dendrohyrax dorsalis