Rock Hyrax
The Rock Hyrax can live in a variety of environments across Africa and parts of the Middle East. Despite their small size, they are surprisingly agile climbers, thanks to the rubbery texture on the bottom of their feet, which acts like a built-in suction cup. This adaptation helps them navigate steep rock surfaces and even trees with ease. They are commonly found at elevations of up to 4,267 metres and are well-adapted to arid and rocky regions.
Diet
Rock hyraxes are omnivores, eating a mix of grasses, fruit, insects, lizards, and birds' eggs. Their diet shifts with the seasons – during wet periods, they prefer fresh grass, but in drier months, they rely on a variety of available plant materials, including some that are highly toxic to other animals. They have a specialised digestive system with a three-chambered stomach, which helps them break down tough plant matter. Hyraxes also eat mosses and liverworts when food is scarce.
FUN FACT
Rock hyraxes are highly social and live in colonies, sometimes with up to 80 individuals. They spend much of their time sunbathing on large rocks, particularly in the mornings and late afternoons, as they have limited control over their body temperature. This behaviour helps them regulate their warmth before they set out to forage. They also rest in communal groups, often piling on top of each other for warmth and protection.
LIFE SPAN
11 years.
HABITAT
Rock hyraxes thrive in a range of habitats, from dry savannas and shrublands to dense rainforests. They prefer rocky environments, where crevices and burrows provide shelter from predators such as eagles, leopards, and caracals. Though they do not dig their own burrows, they often take over abandoned ones left by other animals like aardvarks or meerkats. They are also known to inhabit cliffs and rock formations, with their urine leaving distinctive white stains on the rocks – an easy way to spot their colonies.
