Hyracoidea
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hyraxes
There are five species in one family (procaviidae) in this order. Hyraxes are the size of a rabbit and are found in
Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
Hyraxes look like guinea pigs They have stubby legs; a short tail; small, round ears; short heads; and two front teeth that protrude out over their lower lip. Hyraxes may look like rodents, but they are more closely related to elephants and manatees!
Hyraxes have plantigrade feet, that means that their entire foot, from their toes to their heels, touches the ground. Their feet have pads on them that are kept moist through a gland that secretes a fluid that helps them keep their grip on surfaces. They have five toes on their front paws and three-toes on their hind feet. The first and third toe on their hind feet have nails on them look like human finger nails. The middle toe has a long claw. Hyraxes are herbivores and live in colonies.
World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct
Status taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status, or there is no status data for the species.
US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game
New Hampshire Species |
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North/Central American Species |
None |
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None |
Additional Information Resource Key
Profile Photos Video Audio
Hyrax
The hyrax is also called the rock rabbit or dassie.
Source: African Wildlife foundation Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Hyrax
Hyraxes eat leaves, bark, grasses, and some insects.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Bush Hyrax - Heterohyrax brucei
The bush hyrax is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania,Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Rock Hyrax - Procavia capensis
The rock hyrax is found in Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia,and Zimbabwe.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yrs
Southern Tree Hyrax - Dendrohyrax arboreus
The southern tree hyrax is found in Angola, Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa,, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School |