Rock Hyrax

Only 1-2 feet in length, the rock hyrax is a small mammal with short ears, a short snout, and short sturdy legs. Their fur is brownish gray, with a lighter underbelly and a black patch on their back over their scent gland. They have four toes on their front feet and three on their back feet. Rock hyrax foot pads have special sweat glands that help them stick on rocks.

Notably, hyraxes have two incisor teeth that grow out like elephant tusks. These teeth are often referred to as their “fangs”. Even with their mouths closed, these two teeth can sometimes be seen peeking out.

The rock hyrax lives throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa. They are found everywhere except for Madagascar, the Congo Basin, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Rock hyraxes live in arid habitats with moderate vegetation, including deserts, savannas, and scrub forests. They are found in rocky areas with boulders, cliffs, and caves, and tend to stick to nooks and crannies that provide shelter and protection. Their sticky foot pads help them cling to these rocks and smooth surfaces. Potential predators include leopards, wild dogs, jackals, servals, pythons, and eagles.

Rock hyraxes primarily eat grasses during the wet season, however, when grass is hard to come by, they will also eat leaves and fruits. Their three-chambered stomach is adept at digesting the grasses they eat.

In order to stay protected while feeding, rock hyraxes will eat in a circle formation with their backs facing each other and their heads pointed outwards to look for predators. The dominant male takes breaks between each bite to watch for danger and lets out a shriek to warn others if he spots anything.

Rock hyraxes are active during the day, spending their nights in protected areas like caves or burrows. When they are awake, they tend to have luxurious days filled with sunbathing in the morning and cuddling in the afternoon! They spend the majority of their day “heaping”- a behavior where many hyraxes rest in a den on top of one another. When not sunbathing or heaping, they will forage for food.

Rock hyraxes live in large colonies of up to 80 individuals, consisting of one or multiple territorial males and a harem of females and offspring. They are polygamous, with one male breeding with several females once a year during their breeding season. Gestation lasts about 6.5 to 8.5 months. When males reach about 2 years of age, they will disperse from their family to find new territory.

Rock hyrax are listed by the IUCN as Least Concern, with their population stable. However, they are hunted locally and have been extirpated in smaller localities.

• While the hyrax may look like a rodent, they are actually one of the closest living relatives of the elephant! Elephants and hyrax share a common ancestor, and share similar bone structure, especially in the skull, teeth, and toes. Hyrax, along with elephants, manatees, and dugongs, are classified as Uranotherians.
• There are 5 species of hyrax: rock hyrax, yellow-spotted (or bush) hyrax, western tree hyrax, southern tree hyrax, and eastern tree hyrax.
• Rock hyrax and bush hyrax sometimes associate when their ranges overlap. They can live in the same burrows, and sometimes their offspring will play together!

The Oakland Zoo’s three rock hyrax, Riblet, Chippy, and Nutmeg, are all males. They were born in 2019 at the Bronx Zoo in New York. As of 2021, they have lived with us here in Oakland. They spend much of their time piled up in their favorite caves as they would in the wild for protection. They like to come out when the sun is shining. As soon as the warmth hits the entrance to the cave, they know it’s a good time to come out and soak up the rays.