Israeli relatives of African elephants. Order hyraxes (hyracoidea) Closest relatives of elephants

Everyone knows such an animal as the elephant, but it turns out that there is an animal with which the elephant has a lot in common, but not everyone is familiar with it. This small animal– hyrax (or zhiryak) is a mammal, the size of a domestic one. African legend says they are related. Is this possible? Could such a pygmy be a relative of the largest of all land animals? It turns out it can. Scientists believe that more than 50 million years ago, an animal similar in size and appearance to a bear roamed Africa, digging up and eating tubers. His descendants took two completely different paths, some becoming huge and others quite small. This relationship is intuitively reflected in a local myth that calls the hyrax younger brother elephant.

Hyraxes resemble a large one, but they are not actually rodents. In fact, science doesn't know exactly who their closest relatives are. Hyraxes live in rocky areas south of the Sahara and in the Middle East. Two species, the Cape hyrax and the mountain hyrax, can live together in one colony. Their rocky skyscrapers may seem impregnable, but this is no obstacle for eagles and they often attack from above. Fortunately, the hyrax has its own little tricks. The eagle tries to take its prey by surprise, diving from the direction of the blinding sun, but The hyrax can also look at the sun. The Zulus considered hyraxes to be blind, but their whole secret was a pair of unique sun filter glasses built into their eyes that absorb bright light. The hyrax quickly notices the predator and escapes into crevices between rocks or deep caves.

It is much safer here, but it is a little dark, therefore, giving rest to the eyes, which are practically useless in such deep dens, the hyrax uses a different tactic - it moves by touch. Long, hypersensitive whiskers—vibrises—grow all over his body and allow him to feel the unevenness and zigzags of these underground corridors so acutely that he always knows exactly where he is, even in pitch darkness. Such caves also protect him from extreme African climate, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s hot outside or cold, inside it’s always cool enough.

The hyrax's body temperature also decreases, and this saves it energy. In Africa, if necessary, the sun will always quickly warm you right through. In fact, sunbathing is the main morning activity of hyraxes. At this time you can relax a little. Eagles, the main enemies, will not take off until the flow of heated air they need for soaring comes up from the ground. Therefore, hyraxes can calmly sit back and bask in the morning sun for several hours, and this cannot be taken away from them. Like reptiles, they use solar heat without wasting precious food calories for internal heating. As a result, they have a fairly modest appetite and do not need to spend much time feeding outside their stone bastions.

Yes, yes - it’s him!

Hyraxes are small animals very similar to marmots, and when hyraxes were discovered they were initially mistaken for rodents. After some time, paying attention to the structural features of their limbs, hyraxes were classified as odd-toed ungulates, and in the middle of the 19th century, having discovered the similarity of hyraxes with elephants, they were separated into an independent order. The similarity of hyraxes with equids and elephants is explained by the presence of distant common ancestors of all these animals - the most ancient primitive ungulates, from which all modern ungulates descended.

Hyraxes are divided into 3 genera: tree, mountain and rock hyraxes. All hyraxes live in the mountains at an altitude of up to 5200 m above sea level. Tree hyraxes live in African mountain forests. Mountain hyraxes prefer rocky areas devoid of vegetation. And rocky hyraxes are found not only in the mountains, but also in semi-deserts, savannas and steppes of Africa, Arabia, Syria and Palestine. All hyraxes are excellent climbers on almost smooth vertical surfaces of stones or tree trunks. Wide, constantly moistened, rubber-like soles and the natural agility of these clumsy-looking animals help them avoid slipping.

Tree hyraxes live in families: father, mother and cubs. During the day they sleep in tree hollows, and in the evening they go out in search of edible leaves and insects. Tree hyraxes do not climb trees, but quickly run up and down inclined trunks and quickly jump from branch to branch.

Rock and mountain hyraxes prefer to live in large colonies, sometimes up to hundreds of individuals. Living in open areas, it is safer to stay together - you will notice the predator in time, and it is easier to defend yourself together.

Hyraxes have babies all year round. Mountain and Rockies usually have 1-3 cubs in a litter. The most prolific is the Cape hyrax, which can give birth to up to 6 babies at the same time. Newborn hyraxes are fully developed, covered with hair and sighted, completely ready to independent life, however, still under parental supervision. At 2 years old, young hyraxes already start their own family. Hyraxes do not live long - about 6-7 years.

Hyraxes tolerate captivity well. Although adult individuals remain wild, young animals can be tamed. Hyraxes are not in danger of extinction, and not a single species of these animals is listed in the Red Book.

The largest hyraxes are Johnson hyraxes (up to 5.4 kg), and the smallest are Bruce hyraxes (up to 1.3 kg). Both of these species belong to the genus of mountain hyraxes and live in large colonies. It is curious that the composition of this colony is mixed: Bruce’s hyraxes do not just coexist with Johnson’s hyraxes: they spend the night in the same crevices, warming each other, jointly raise the offspring of the two species, and even communicate using similar sound signals.

Mountain hyraxes Such cohabitation different types animals are unique. Apart from hyraxes, only monkeys of some species communicate so closely with each other.

Short fact
Hyraxes do not need water, receiving all the necessary moisture from food.

To comb its thick brown-gray fur, the hyrax uses a long, curved claw located on its inside hind legs. The soles of hyraxes are covered with thick, rough skin, similar to rubber. Sticky sweat is secreted from special glands on the feet, thanks to which the feet work like suction cups, allowing the animal to move around easily and freely. steep cliffs, including upside down.

Hyraxes are extremely careful. They gather in groups of about 50 individuals living in natural rock crevices. Each group has observers who closely monitor the environment. Seeing a person or animal, these “sentinels” emit a piercing cry, and the entire colony scatters into its burrows at lightning speed.

Hyraxes have good vocal abilities; their repertoire includes chirping, growling, whistling, and loud screams. Sometimes at night the groups arrange a roll call with their neighbors - it all starts with a barely audible squeak or whistle, which gradually turns into a pig squeal, then turning into sounds similar to the cry of a child.

Hyraxes make the most noise when climbing or descending from a tree. On a cold desert night, hyraxes gather together, huddling together to keep warm, and in the hottest part of the day they sit comfortably in the shade of trees, raising their paws to the top.

Hyraxes are diurnal animals; they spend their time climbing rocks and gorges or jumping from branch to branch in search of fresh juicy leaves, fruits of trees and shrubs. A hyrax will not refuse a randomly encountered insect. From its ungulate relatives, the hyrax has retained the habit of chewing, although in fact chewing is considered to be the movement of its lips while it is carefully sniffing something.

These wary animals, living south of the Sahara, as well as in Syria and Israel, have many enemies - leopards, pythons, steppe lynxes (caracals), servals and civets hunt hyraxes. The personal enemy of the hyrax can be called the black African eagle, which prefers to feed exclusively on hyraxes.

Rus: Mountain hyrax
Eng: Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax
Lat: (Heterohyrax bruceii)

Distributed in Eastern and Southern Africa from Southeast Egypt (Red Sea coast), Sudan and Ethiopia to Central Angola (isolated population) and Northern South Africa (Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces).

The body length of an adult mountain hyrax is 32.5-56 cm, weight - 1.3-4.5 kg. Males and females are practically the same in size, although females are usually somewhat larger.

The habitat of mountain hyraxes is rocky hills, screes and mountain slopes. They rise into the mountains to a height of 3,800 m above sea level. Characteristic rocky hills (monadnocks) in arid areas provide hyraxes with suitable temperature (17–25˚C) and humidity (32–40%), providing protection from steppe fires.

Like all hyraxes, rock hyraxes are colonial animals. The usual size of a colony is up to 34 individuals; it is based on a stable polygynous family group (harem). The group includes an adult male, up to 17 adult females and young animals. Rock hyraxes often coexist alongside Cape hyraxes, sharing shelter with them. Hyraxes are active during the day, as well as on bright moonlit nights. They usually feed from 7.30 to 11 o'clock and from 15.30 to 18 o'clock in the afternoon, but up to 94% of the time is spent basking in the sun, caring for the coat, etc. Hyraxes find refuge in voids between stones, cracks and rock crevices. Possess sharp vision and hearing; When attacked, they aggressively defend themselves with their teeth. In case of danger, they emit piercing screams, forcing other hyraxes to hide in shelters. Capable of reaching speeds of up to 5 m/s; They jump well.

Mountain hyraxes feed on a variety of plant foods, including leaves, fruits, shoots and tree bark. For example, one colony observed in Zambia ate primarily the leaves of the bitter yam (Dioscorea bulbifera). The main source of food, however, is various types of acacias and allophilus; in general, they prefer to feed on trees and shrubs, for which they can even climb trees. The typical diet of mountain hyrax in Serengeti National Park includes species of cordia (Cordia ovalis), grevia (Grewia fallax), hibiscus (Hibiscus lunarifolius), ficus (Ficus), and merua (Maerua triphylla). They do not drink water, obtaining the necessary liquid from vegetation. They feed in groups, less often - alone.

Rock hyraxes breed year-round, although peak breeding usually occurs late in the year. wet season. Pregnancy lasts 6.5-7.5 months and ends with the birth of 1-2 cubs in a brood nest, which rock hyraxes sometimes share with cape hyraxes. The weight of the baby at birth is 220-230 g. Milk feeding lasts up to 6 months. Between 12 and 30 months, mature young males leave their home territory; females join the family group.

Mountain hyraxes are hunted by large snakes (hieroglyphic pythons), predator birds, leopards and more small predators(for example, mongooses). They are susceptible to viral pneumonia and tuberculosis. Suffer from nematodes of the species Crossophorus collaris, various types ticks, fleas and lice. The recorded life expectancy is up to 11 years.

Rus: Cape hyrax
Eng: Rock Hyrax
Lat: (Procavia capensis)

Distributed from Syria, Israel and Northeast Africa to South Africa. Found almost everywhere south of the Sahara. Isolated populations are found in the mountains of Libya and Algeria.

Body length 30-58 cm, weight - 1.4-4 kg. Males are slightly larger than females.

Cape hyraxes inhabit rocks, large rocky placers, outcrops or rocky shrubby deserts. Shelter is found among stones or in empty burrows of other animals (aardvarks, meerkat). They live in colonies of 5-6 to 80 individuals. Large colonies are divided into family groups led by an adult male. They are active during the daylight hours, especially in the morning and evening, but sometimes come to the surface on warm moonlit nights. They spend most of the day resting and basking in the sun - poorly developed thermoregulation causes the body temperature of hyraxes to fluctuate throughout the day. They feed mainly on grass, fruits, shoots and bark of shrubs; They eat animal food (locusts) less often. Despite their clumsy appearance, these animals are very mobile and easily climb steep rocks.

The timing of the mating season depends on the habitat. So, in Kenya it begins in August-November, but can last until January; and in Syria - in August-September. Pregnancy lasts 6-7 months. Females usually give birth in June-July, after the rainy season. There are 2, rarely 3 cubs in a litter, sometimes up to 6. Cubs are born sighted and covered with hair; after a few hours they leave the brood nest. They begin to eat solid food at 2 weeks and become independent at 10 weeks. Young hyraxes reach sexual maturity at 16 months; At the age of 16-24 months, young males disperse, females usually remain with their family group.

The main enemies of hyrax are leopard, caracal, jackals, spotted hyena and birds of prey. The Kaffir eagle (Aquila verreauxii) feeds almost exclusively on hyraxes. When attacked by an enemy, the hyrax not only takes a defensive pose, raising its hair on end above the dorsal gland, but also defends itself with its long, strong teeth. The usual life expectancy in nature is 10 years. Females live noticeably longer than males.

Western tree hyrax
Eng: Western Tree Hyrax
Lat: (Dendrohyrax dorsalis)

They live in the forests of Central and South Africa. They are found on mountain slopes up to an altitude of 4500 m above sea level.

Their body length is 40-60 cm, tail is 1-3 cm, weight is 1.5-2.5 kg.

Tree hyraxes are very mobile: they quickly run up and down tree trunks, jump from branch to branch. These animals lead night look life and therefore hardly noticeable. However, in the evenings the forest is filled with their cries, signaling that hyraxes have come out to feed. At night, the screams subside, but fill the forest again before dawn, when the animals return home. The call of tree hyraxes consists of a series of croaking sounds ending in a sharp squeal. The voices of tree hyraxes of different species are clearly distinguishable. You can also distinguish a male from a female by its cry. Hyraxes scream only in trees. Probably, the cries of hyraxes are signals that the territory is occupied.

They lead a solitary lifestyle. The individual area of ​​this animal is about 0.25 km 2 . Hyraxes feed on leaves, buds, caterpillars and other insects. They often go down to the ground to feed, where they eat grass and collect insects; they spend the day in hollows or in the crown of a tree among dense foliage.

There is no specific breeding season, and they produce young all year round. Pregnancy lasts 7 months. Usually they bring one, rarely two cubs. They are born sighted, covered with hair, very large (almost half the length of the mother) and a few hours after birth they are already climbing trees. Sexual maturity is reached at 2 years.

When in danger, hyraxes take a characteristic pose, turning their backs to the enemy and ruffling the hair on the dorsal gland so that the glandular field is exposed. Locals Hyraxes are caught everywhere, since the meat of these animals good quality. In captivity, tree hyraxes quickly become tame and live up to 6-7 years.

Southern tree hyrax
Eng: Southern Tree Hyrax
Lat: (Dendrohyrax arboreus)

Distributed in Africa, along the Southeast coast. Its range extends south from Kenya and Uganda to South Africa and from eastern Congo and Zambia, west to the east coast of the continent.

The average body weight is 2.27 kg, with a length of about 52 cm.

Inhabits mountain plain and coastal forests up to an altitude of 4500 m above sea level.

The habitat of hyraxes is East Coast The Mediterranean, the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas and Africa, more precisely, the savannahs south of the Sahara Desert. Looking at this funny animal, you can mistake it for some kind of rodent: it looks like either a marmot or a guinea pig. This is incredible, but true: in fact, this is a “terrible beast”, whose closest relatives are elephants, the site reports with reference to the publication N+1.

Hyraxes have nothing to do with rabbits, guinea pigs, or rodents in general. Their closest relatives are, surprisingly, the proboscis: elephants and their extinct relatives, as well as the sirens: the exterminated Steller's cow and its surviving brothers, dugongs and manatees. Hyraxes are similar to them in many morphological characteristics - and this relationship is confirmed by genetic studies.

Unlike their imposing relatives, hyraxes have a rather unprepossessing appearance, are no larger in size than cats and look like marmots without a tail. On their front paws they have four toes with flat nails that look like small hooves, and on their hind paws they have three toes, on one of which the nail is curved.

These hoof-like nails are one of those morphological features, which bring hyraxes closer to elephants and sirens: both elephants and even manatees have nails, very small, along the edge of the flippers.

Another feature that brings hyraxes closer to elephants is their tusks. Hyraxes do have tusks, albeit very small ones, which, like elephants, are formed by incisors. In most other animals, the tusks are formed by fangs - such as walruses, warthogs or wild boars.

Hyraxes also have other features that they share with their larger relatives. For example, males do not have a scrotum, and their testes remain in abdominal cavity, and in females the nipples are located near the armpits (as well as in the groin area).

Later molecular studies showed that hyraxes, like elephants and sirens, are in no way related to ungulates, and penungulates are a group of organisms with a common origin.

But this similarity is only external. Science has proven that the closest relatives hyraxes — elephants.

In Israel there is a Cape hyrax, the original name of which was “shafan”, which translated into Russian means the one who hides. The body length reaches half a meter and weighs 4 kg. Males are much larger than females. Top part The body of the animal is brown, the lower part is several tones lighter. The fur of the hyrax is very thick, with a dense undercoat.

Sexually mature males have a pronounced dorsal gland. When frightened or excited, it releases a substance with a strong odor. This area of ​​the back is usually a different color.

One of the features animal hyrax is the structure of his limbs. The animal's front paws have four toes that end in flat claws.

These claws are more reminiscent of human nails than animal nails. The hind paws are crowned with only three toes, two of them are the same as on the front paws, and one toe is large claw. The soles of the animal's paws are devoid of hair, but are notable for the special structure of the muscles that can raise the arch of the foot.

Also foot hyrax constantly produces a sticky substance. A special muscular structure, combined with this substance, gives the animal the ability to easily move along steep cliffs and climb the most tall trees.

Bruce's hyrax very shy. However, despite this, he is very curious. It is curiosity that periodically forces these animals to sneak into human habitation. Hyrax - mammal, which is easily tamed and does well in captivity.

Buy hyrax Available in specialized pet stores. In the wild, these animals live in and in South Asia. The Ein Gedi Nature Reserve gives its visitors the opportunity to observe the behavior of these animals in natural environment.

Bruce's hyrax in the photo

Mountain hyrax prefers semi-deserts, savannas and mountains for life. One of the varieties - tree hyraxes are found in forests and most spends its life in the trees, avoiding going down to the ground.

Character and lifestyle

Depending on the species, the animal has different preferences for where it lives. So, Israeli hyraxes love to live among large accumulations of stones. These lead a cooperative lifestyle; the number of individuals in one group can reach 50.

Hyraxes dig holes or occupy free crevices in rocks. They prefer to go outside to search for food in the morning and evening to avoid the scorching sun. Weak side The animal is thermoregulation. The body temperature of an adult can vary from 24 to 40 degrees Celsius.

Pictured is a mountain hyrax

During cold nights, in order to somehow warm up, these animals huddle together and warm each other, and in the morning they go out into the sun. This animal can climb to a height of up to 5000 meters above sea level. Depending on the species, the animal is diurnal or nocturnal.

Some individuals most often live alone or in small groups and are awake at night, while others sleep at night. However, despite belonging to a certain type, all hyraxes are very active and are able to move quickly and jump high on rocks and trees.

All hyraxes have excellent hearing and vision. When danger approaches, the animal makes a high, loud sound, hearing which all other individuals of the colony immediately hide. If a group of hyraxes settled on certain territory, they will stay there for a long time.

After a successful hunt on a sunny day, they can lounge on the rocks and bask in the sun. for a long time, however, only on the condition that several individuals stand on their hind legs to see the predator in advance.

Hyrax hunting- a fairly easy task, but if you use guns or any other device that makes a loud sound in this matter, only one individual will be prey. Everyone else will immediately hide.

In the wild, the hyrax has many enemies, such as pythons, and any other predatory animals and birds.

In the case when the enemy is approaching and the hyrax cannot escape, he takes a defensive position and emits a sharp bad smell using the dorsal gland. If necessary, can use teeth. In places where hyrax colonies live adjacent to people, their meat is most often a common product.

Nutrition

Most often, hyraxes prefer to satisfy their hunger with plant foods. But if a small insect or larva comes across their path, they will not disdain them either. In exceptional cases, in search of food, a hyrax can move 1-3 kilometers away from the colony.

As a rule, hyraxes do not need water. The animal's incisors are not sufficiently developed, so they use their molars when feeding. Hyrax has a multi-chamber stomach with a complex structure.

Most often, meals are taken in the morning and evening. The basis of the diet can be not only the green parts of plants, but also roots, fruits, and bulbs. These small animals eat a lot. Most often, this is not a problem for them, because hyraxes settle in places rich in plants.

Reproduction and lifespan

Scientists have come to the conclusion that there is no seasonality in the reproduction of these animals, or at least it has not been identified. That is, babies appear all year round, but not more than once to the same parents. The female bears offspring for about 7-8 months, most often 1 to 3 cubs are born.

In rare cases, their number can reach up to 6 - this is how many nipples the mother has. The need for breastfeeding disappears within two weeks after birth, although the mother feeds much longer.

The cubs are born quite developed. They see immediately and are already covered with thick fur and are able to move quickly. After 2 weeks, they begin to independently absorb plant foods. Babies are capable of procreation at the age of one and a half years; it is then that the males leave the colony, and the females remain with their family.

Life expectancy varies depending on the species. For example, African hyraxes live 6-7 years, cape hyrax can live up to 10 years. At the same time, a pattern was revealed that females live longer than males.

Hyrax or Hyraxaceae (lat. Proсaviidae) - a family represented by small and stocky herbivorous mammals, the only one of all currently existing in the order Damana (Hyracoidea). The family includes five species.

Description of hyrax

Another name for hyraxes is zhiryaki. Even despite the rather ordinary external characteristics of modern hyraxes, such an animal has a prehistoric, very distant origin.

Appearance

Dimensions of the mammal: body length ranging from 30-65 cm with an average weight of 1.5-4.5 kg. The tail part of the zhiryak is rudimentary, no more than 3 cm long, or completely absent. Appearance hyraxes are similar to rodents - tailless marmots or large guinea pigs, but according to phylogenetic indicators, such a mammal is closer to proboscis animals and sirens. Hyraxes have a dense build, are characterized by clumsiness, a large head, as well as a thick and short neck.

The forelimbs are plantigrade, strong and fairly well formed, with four toes and flattened claws that resemble hooves. The hind limbs are three-toed, with an inner toe that has a long and curved nail for combing hair. The soles of the feet are bare, with a thick and rubbery epidermis and numerous sweat ducts necessary for constant hydration of the skin. This feature of the structure of the paws allows hyraxes to climb rocky cliffs and tree trunks with incredible speed and dexterity, as well as descend upside down.

This is interesting! In the middle part of the back there is an area represented by elongated, lighter or darker hair with a central bare area and glandular sweat ducts that secrete a strong-smelling secretion during reproduction.

The muzzle is short, with a forked upper lip. The ears are round in shape, small in size, sometimes almost completely hidden under the fur. The fur is thick, consisting of soft down and coarse awns, brownish-gray in color. On the body, in the area of ​​the muzzle and neck, as well as above the eyes, there are tufts of long vibrissae.

Character and lifestyle

The Hyrax family consists of four species, a pair of which are diurnal, and a pair are nocturnal.. Representatives of the genus Procavia and Heterohyrax are diurnal mammals living in colonies of five to six dozen individuals. A nocturnal forest animal can be a loner or live in a family. All hyraxes are distinguished by their mobility and the ability to run quickly, jump quite high and easily climb almost any surface.

This is interesting! All representatives of one colony visit the same “toilet”, and their urine on the stones leaves very characteristic white crystalline traces.

Representatives of the Damanaceae family are characterized by the presence of good developed vision and hearing, but poor thermoregulation, so such animals try to get together at night to warm themselves. IN daytime Mammals, along with reptiles, prefer to bask for a long time under sun rays, raising up the paws with sweat glands. The hyrax is a very cautious animal, which, when danger is detected, emits sharp and high-pitched screams, forcing the entire colony to quickly hide in a shelter.

How long do hyraxes live?

Average lifespan of a hyrax in natural conditions does not exceed fourteen years, but may vary slightly depending on the habitat and species characteristics. For example, the African hyrax lives on average six or seven years, while Cape hyraxes can live up to ten years. At the same time, a characteristic pattern has been established, according to which females always live a little longer than males.

Types of hyraxes

Relatively recently, the hyrax family united about ten to eleven species, which belonged to four genera. Currently, only four, sometimes five species are distinguished:

• The Procaviidae family is represented by D. arboreus or Tree hyrax, D. dorsalis or Western hyrax, D. validus or Eastern hyrax, H. brucei or Bruce hyrax and Pr. sarensis or Cape hyrax;
• The Pliohyracidas family includes several genera - Kbabebihyrax, Pliohyrax (Leptodon), as well as Postschizotherium, Sogdohyrax and Titanohyrax;
• Family Geniohyidae;
• Family Myohyracidae.

All hyraxes are conventionally divided into three main groups: mountain, steppe and arboreal mammals. A number of hyraxes are represented by one family, which includes about nine species living in Africa, including tree and mountain hyrax.

Range, habitats

Rock hyraxes are colonial animals distributed throughout eastern and southern Africa, from southeastern Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to central Angola and northern South Africa, including the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, where habitats include rocky hills, screes and mountain slopes.

Cape hyraxes have become quite widespread from Syria, North-Eastern Africa and Israel to South Africa, and are also found almost everywhere south of the Sahara. Isolated populations are observed in the mountainous landscapes of Algeria and Libya.

Western tree hyraxes live in forest zones in the South and Central Africa, and are also found on mountain slopes up to an altitude of 4.5 thousand meters above sea level. Southern tree hyraxes have become widespread in Africa, as well as along the Southeast coastal zone.

The habitat of this species extends to the southern part from Uganda and Kenya to the territory of South Africa, as well as from eastern parts Zambia and Congo, in westward eastern continental coast. The animal lives in mountain lowland and coastal forests.

Hyrax diet

The basis of the diet of most hyraxes is represented by leaves. Also, such mammals feed on grass and young succulent shoots. The complex multi-chamber stomach of such a herbivore contains a sufficient amount of special beneficial microflora, which contributes to the most efficient and easy absorption of plant feed.

Cape hyraxes sometimes eat food of animal origin, mainly locust insects, as well as their larvae. The Cape hyrax is capable of eating vegetation containing fairly strong toxins without harm to its health.

This is interesting! Hyraxes have very long and sharp incisors, which are used not only in the feeding process, but also serve as a means of protecting the shy animal from numerous predators.

The usual diet of mountain hyraxes inhabiting National parks, includes varieties of cordia (Cordia ovalis), grevia (Grewia fallax), hibiscus (Hibiscus lunarifolius), ficus (Ficus) and merua (Maerua triphylla). These mammals do not drink water, so they obtain all the fluid necessary for the body exclusively from vegetation.