Hyracoidea, from Greek ὕραξ (húrax, “shrewmouse”), in reference to the fact that these species resemble shrewmouses in appearance.

Common names of members

Hyraxes.

Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.

Size

 On average, their weight is 2.27 kg, and their length is 52 cm.

Morphology

They look a lot like guinea pigs. Their body is covered in long, fluffy, grey-brown fur, with a paler underside. There is a white hair fringe around the ears, and the hair is paler at the points. They have long vibrissae. Have short tails and 3-toed hind feet with almost hoof-like nails on two of the toes. Arid and warm zones living hyraxes have short fur, tree Hyraxes and alpine areas living hyraxes have thick, soft fur.

Habitat & Ecology

They live in moist savanna, rocky places, lowland forests that are damp, lowland forests that are moist, subtropical or tropical dry forests, and moist savanna. 

Diet

They are herbivores. They eat a wide variety of plant elements, including the juicy fruit, hard seeds, twigs, shoots, petioles, and leaves. There are too many species to name them all, but some examples are Podocarpus falcatus, Hypericum revolutum, and Hagenia abyssinica. 

Reproduction 

Depending on the species, females can give birth to up to four children following a gestation period of seven to eight months. The young are sexually mature at 16–17 months after being weaned during a period of 3-5 months. They are a monogamous family living in tiny groups, with one male fiercely guarding the territory against intruders. In areas with lots of living space, the male might be the only one with access to several groups of females, each with their own territory. The surviving males mate only with younger females and lead solitary lives, frequently on the outskirts of territories dominated by larger males. 

Total species known

5

Species in the collection

2

Species in Hong Kong

0

References

Pough, F. H., Janis, C. M., Heiser, J. B. (2012). Vertebrate Life. Pearson.

Macdonald, D. W. (2006). The Encyclopedia of mammals. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acref/9780199206087.001.0001.

Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press.

Milner, J. M., Harris, S. (2002). Activity patterns and feeding behaviour of the tree hyrax, Dendrohyrax arboreus, in the Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda. African Journal of Ecology, 37(3), 267-280. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2028.1999.00184.x.   

Gaylard, A., Kerley, G. I. H. (1997). Diet of Tree Hyraxes Dendrohyrax arboreus (Hyracoidea: Procaviidae) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Journal of Mammalogy, 78(1), 213–221. https://doi.org/10.2307/1382654.