- Common name: Rock Hyrax or Dassie
- Scientific Name: Procavia capensis
- Sub-species: P. c. capensis, P. c. habessinicus, P. c. johnstoni, P. c. ruficeps, and P. c. welwitschii
- Conservation status: Least Concerned
- Habitat: Saharan and southern Africa
- Diet: Omnivorous, eats plants as well as small insects
Hyraxes make loud grunting noises while chewing, which could be indicative of food aggression. This noise gave ancient civilizations the impression that the hyrax is a ruminate, which is not the case.
The gestation period for hyraxes is 6-7 months, which is particularly long for an animal of it's size. The mother will birth 2-4 babies which will have fully opened eyes and fully grown fur. They will be weaned by about 10 weeks, reach sexual maturity at 16 months, and become fully adult-sized at about three years.
Hyraxes spend about 95% of their time resting. They particularly enjoy sunbathing.
Hyraxes maintain complex egalitarian social structures, in which they support one another in times of need. They were the first animal outside of humans where a structural balance was described.
Hyraxes have over 20 unique vocalizations, which have made them exceedingly popular on social media and current culture. They can chirp, meow, snort, scream, and even sing.
Rock hyraxes are only one of several types. Other types include the yellow-spotted rock hyrax (which is known for it's distinctive scream) and the tree hyrax, which also has several sub-types.