Wildlife Journal Junior!
New Hampshire PBS

Home       |       Wild Files       |       N.H. Animals       |       Animals A-Z       |       Watch Online

Hyracoidea - hyraxes

bush hyraxThere 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 ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinctExtinct
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 US Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in US Endangered in NH Endangered in NH Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

New Hampshire Species

 

 North/Central American Species

None   None

Species Around the World

Location Key
Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North/Central America South America South America New Hampshire Species NH Species
Southern Tree Hyrax -  Dendrohyrax arboreus Least Concern Africa
Western Tree Hyrax -  Dendrohyrax dorsalis Least Concern Africa
Eastern Tree Hyrax -  Dendrohyrax validus Least Concern Africa


  Bush Hyrax -  Heterohyrax brucei Least Concern Africa
Rock Hyrax -  Procavia capensis Least Concern Africa Asia

Additional Information

Resource Key
profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio

Hyrax profile Photos
The hyrax is also called the rock rabbit or dassie.
Source: African Wildlife foundation Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hyrax profile Photos
Hyraxes eat leaves, bark, grasses, and some insects.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Bush Hyrax -  Heterohyrax brucei Photos Least Concern Africa
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 profile Photos Video Least Concern Africa Asia
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 Photos Least Concern Africa
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