Hyraxes Fossil range: Early Eocene - Recent
Heterohyrax brucei
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Eutheria Superorder: Paenungulata Order: Hyracoidea Huxley, 1869 Family: Procaviidae Thomas, 1892
Genera
Procavia Heterohyrax Dendrohyrax The Eocene epoch (55. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Digimon, the only known animals. ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Subclasses Allotheria* Order Multituberculata (extinct) Order Volaticotheria (extinct) Order Palaeoryctoides (extinct) Order Triconodonta (extinct) Prototheria Order Monotremata Theria Infraclass Marsupialia Infraclass Eutheria The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals characterized by the production of milk in females for the nourishment of young, from mammary glands present on most species... Eutheria is a taxon (specifically, an infraclass) nearly synonymous with Placentalia, containing the placental mammals and the nearest ancestors of placental mammals (which are known only from the fossil record). ... Paenungulata is a superorder that groups some remarkable mammals constituting three orders: Proboscidea (Elephants) Sirenia (Sea cows and manatees) Hyracoidea (Hyraxes, such as the African Rock Hyrax, Procavia habessinica) All three still exist but the Paenungulata once had at least two additional orders, namely: Embrithopoda Desmostylia Both of these were... Thomas Huxley Thomas Henry Huxley F.R.S. (May 4, 1825 – June 29, 1895) was a British biologist, known as Darwins Bulldog for his defence of Charles Darwins theory of evolution. ... Michael Rogers Oldfield Thomas (February 21, 1858 - June 16, 1929) was a British zoologist. ... For other uses of the word, please see Genus (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Procavia capensis (Pallas, 1766) The Cape Hyrax (Procavia capensis) is a species in the order Hyracoidea. ...

A hyrax (from Greek ὑραξ 'shrewmouse'; South African English: klipdassie) is any of four species of fairly small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. They live in Africa and the Middle East. South African English is a dialect of English spoken in South Africa and in neighbouring countries with a large number of Anglo-Africans living in them, such as Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. ... In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biodiversity. ... Subclasses Allotheria* Order Multituberculata (extinct) Order Volaticotheria (extinct) Order Palaeoryctoides (extinct) Order Triconodonta (extinct) Prototheria Order Monotremata Theria Infraclass Marsupialia Infraclass Eutheria The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals characterized by the production of milk in females for the nourishment of young, from mammary glands present on most species... Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... For other uses, see Africa (disambiguation). ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ...

Characteristics

Hyraxes are well-furred rotund creatures with a mere stump for a tail. They are about the size of a domestic cat; most measure between 30 and about 70 cm long and weigh between 2 and 5 kg. From a distance and with a little imagination, a hyrax could be mistaken for a very well-fed rabbit or guinea pig. Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. ... Binomial name Cavia porcellus (Linnaeus, 1758) Guinea pigs (also called cavies) are rodents belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia, originally indigenous to the Andes. ...

Historical accounts

Early Phoenician navigators mistook the rabbits of the Iberian Peninsula for hyraxes (Hebrew Shaphan); hence they named it I-Shapan-im, meaning "land of the hyraxes", which became the Latin word "Hispania", the root of Spain's modern Spanish name España and the English name Spain. Phoenician sarcophagus found in Cadiz, Spain; now in Archaeological Museum of Cádiz. ... The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe. ... “Hebrew” redirects here. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Iberian Peninsula. ...

The word "rabbit" was used instead of "hyrax" many times in some earlier English Bible translations. European translators of those times had no knowledge of the hyrax (Hebrew שָּׁפָן Shaphan^[1]), and therefore no name for them. There are references to hyraxes in the Old Testament^[2] which seem to mistakenly identify hyraxes and rabbits as ruminating animals. This is possibly because they "appear to be so from working the jaws on the grasses they live on."^[3]). “Hebrew” redirects here. ... Note: Judaism commonly uses the term Tanakh. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Prehistoric hyraxes

All modern hyraxes are members of the family Procaviidae (the only living family within the Hyracoidea) and are found only in Africa and the Middle East. In the past, however, hyraxes were more diverse and widespread. The order first appears in the fossil record over 40 million years ago, and for many millions of years hyraxes were the primary terrestrial herbivore in Africa, just as odd-toed ungulates were in the Americas. There were many different species, the largest of them about the weight of a small horse, the smallest the size of a mouse. For other uses, see Africa (disambiguation). ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Three small ammonite fossils, each approximately 1. ... Families Equidae Tapiridae Rhinocerotidae Brontotheriidae(extinct) Chalicotheriidae(extinct) Hyracodontidae(extinct) The odd-toed ungulates or Perissodactyla are large to very large browsing and grazing mammals with relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe. ... World map showing the Americas CIA political map of the Americas The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World consisting of the continents of North America[1] and South America with their associated islands and regions. ...

During the Miocene, however, competition from the newly-developed bovids—very efficient grazers and browsers—pushed the hyraxes out of the prime territory and into marginal niches. Nevertheless, the order remained widespread, diverse and successful as late as the end of the Pliocene (about two million years ago) with representatives throughout most of Africa, Europe and Asia. The Miocene Epoch is a period of time that extends from about 23. ... Subfamilies Bovinae Cephalophinae Hippotraginae Antilopinae Caprinae A bovid is any of almost 140 species of cloven-hoofed mammals belonging to the family Bovidae. ... The Pliocene epoch (spelled Pleiocene in some older texts) is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ...

The descendants of the giant hyracoids evolved in different ways. Some became smaller, and gave rise to the modern hyrax family. Others appear to have taken to the water (perhaps like the modern capybara), and ultimately gave rise to the elephant family, and perhaps also the Sirenians (dugongs and manatees). DNA evidence supports this theory, and the small modern hyraxes share numerous features with elephants, such as toenails, excellent hearing, sensitive pads on their feet, small tusks, good memory, high brain functions compared to other similar mammals, and the shape of some of their bones. Early Hyraxes may also have given rise to the Glires clade (rodents and lagomorphs).^{[citation needed]} Binomial name Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (Linnaeus, 1766) Capybara range The capybara (also capibara), Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (Water pig) is a semi-aquatic herbivorous animal. ... Families Dugongidae Trichechidae For information about the Gothic Metal band, see Sirenia (band) Sirenia are herbivorous mammals of coastal waters. ... A toenail is the nail found on a toe. ... Pacific Walrus at Cape Peirce A tusk is an extremely long tooth of certain mammals that protrudes when the mouth is closed. ... Grays Anatomy illustration of a human femur. ... Orders Rodentia Lagomorpha Glires is a proposed clade consisting of rodents and lagomorphs (rabbits, hares, and pikas). ... A clade is a term belonging to the discipline of cladistics. ... Suborders Sciuromorpha Castorimorpha Myomorpha Anomaluromorpha Hystricomorpha Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents. ... Families Leporidae Ochotonidae The Lagomorphs, order Lagomorpha, are an order of mammals of which there are two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). ...

Hyraxes today

Tree Hyrax in the Serengeti, Tanzania

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. The Serengeti is a region of grasslands and woodlands in Mara Region in Tanzania. ... Families Antilocapridae Bovidae Camelidae Cervidae Giraffidae Hippopotamidae Moschidae Suidae Tayassuidae Tragulidae Leptochoeridae † Chaeropotamidae † Dichobunidae † Cebochoeridae † Entelodontidae † Anoplotheriidae † Anthracotheriidae † Cainotheriidae † Agriochoeridae † Merycoidodontidae † Leptomerycidae † Protoceratidae † Xiphodontidae † Amphimerycidae † Helohyidae † Gelocidae † Merycodontidae † Dromomerycidae † Raoellidae † Choeropotamidae † Sanitheriidae † The even-toed ungulates form the mammal order Artiodactyla. ... Genera Lagostrophus Dendrolagus Dorcopsis Dorcopsulus Lagorchestes Macropus Onychogalea Petrogale Setonix Thylogale Wallabia Tree kangaroos have smaller ears for easier maneuvering between tree branches, and much longer tail. ...

Scientists have recently reduced the number of distinct species of hyrax recognized. While as recently as 1995 there were eleven or more recognized species, there are only four recognized today. The remaining species are regarded as subspecies of the remaining four. In fact, there are over 50 recognized species and subspecies, though many are considered highly endangered.^[4] Lumping and splitting refers to a well known problem in any discipline which has to place individual examples into rigorously defined categories. ...

Relation to elephants

Hyraxes are widely stated to be the closest living relatives of elephants. This is not so. Though both are within the cohort of mammals known as Afrotheria, the Hyrax is not the closest living relative of the elephant. Elephants (Proboscidea) and hyraxes (Hyracoidae) are both more closely related to manatees and dugongs (Sirenia) than they are to one another. (See: Kemp, T.S., 2005 The Origin and Evolution of Mammals, Oxford University Press, at 252-253; citing Asher et al., 2003, 'Relationships of endemic African mammals and their fossil relatives based on morphological and molecular evidence', Journal of Mammalian Evolution 10: 131 - 194"). Afrotheria are a clade of mammals with the rank of cohort, that has been proposed based on DNA analysis. ... Groups Jozaria (extinct) Anthracobunidae (extinct) Moeritheriidae (extinct) Euproboscidea Numidotheriidae (extinct) Barytheriidae (extinct) Deinotheriidae (extinct) Elephantiformes Phiomiidae (extinct) Palaeomastodontidae (extinct) Hemimastodontidae (extinct) Euelephantoidea Choerolophodontidae (extinct) Amebelodontidae (extinct) Gnathabelodontidae (extinct) Gomphotheriidae (extinct) Elephantidae Mammutidae (extinct) Proboscidea is an order containing only one family of living animals, Elephantidae, the elephants, with three species... Species Trichechus inunguis Trichechus manatus Trichechus senegalensis Manatees (family Trichechidae, genus Trichechus) are large aquatic mammals sometimes known as sea cows. ... Binomial name Dugong dugon (Müller, 1776) Natural range of . ... Families Dugongidae Trichechidae Hydrochichus (extinct) For information about the Gothic metal band, see Sirenia (band) The Sirenia are fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit rivers, estuaries and coastal marine waters. ...

Living species

• ORDER HYRACOIDEA
  • Family Procaviidae
    • Genus Dendrohyrax
      • Southern Tree Hyrax, Dendrohyrax arboreus
      • Western Tree Hyrax, Dendrohyrax dorsalis
    • Genus Heterohyrax
      • Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax, Heterohyrax brucei
    • Genus Procavia
      • Cape Hyrax, Procavia capensis

Binomial name Procavia capensis (Pallas, 1766) The Cape Hyrax (Procavia capensis) is a species in the order Hyracoidea. ... Binomial name Procavia capensis (Pallas, 1766) The Cape Hyrax (scientific name: Procavia capensis) is a species in the order Hyracoidea. ...

References

1. ^ "Shaphan" in Strong's Concordance
2. ^ Lev 11:4-8; Deut 14:7; Ps 104:18; Prov 30:26
3. ^ Commentary on Lev. 11:5,6 by Robert Jamieson
4. ^ Shoshani, Jeheskel (November 16, 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 87-89. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 

External links

Look up Hyrax in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• A BBC Science and Nature article on Hyrax
• A reference to Hyrax on a website about elephants (includes video of Procavia capensis- video link dead-many links broken)