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A brown rock hyrax standing on a rock.
Photo: Naturedata, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rock Hyrax

Procavia capensis

A small, furry African animal that looks like a rodent but is actually a distant relative of elephants.

🦁 Mammals
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About the Rock Hyrax

Rock hyraxes weigh 4 to 12 pounds and are brownish gray with long black whiskers. The soles of their feet are rubbery, moist and shaped to work like suction cups, so they can run and jump on steep rocks. They live in colonies of 5 to 60 in rocky, scrubby areas across much of Africa and parts of the Middle East, and they eat plants, including some that are poisonous to most animals.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Procavia capensis[2]
Size
12 to 22 inches long; 8 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder.[1]
Weight
4 to 12 pounds.[1]
Lifespan
9 to 12 years.[1]
Diet
Herbivore. Grazes and browses on many plants.[1]
Habitat
Rocky, scrub-covered areas, kopjes and cliffs.[1]
Where it lives
Much of Africa, plus parts of the Middle East and Arabian Peninsula.[1]
Group life
Colonies of 5 to 60. Active during the day.[1]
Babies
Usually about three, born fully furred with eyes open.[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2014).[2]

Fun facts

  • Hyraxes' closest relatives are elephants and manatees.[1]
  • Their upper front teeth look like tiny tusks.[1]
  • Their feet work like suction cups on rocks.[1]

Vocabulary

kopje
A rocky hill that rises out of the flat African grassland (say "KOP-ee").
colony
A large group of animals of one kind that live together.
incisor
A sharp front tooth used for biting.
herbivore
An animal that eats only plants.
least concern
A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

  1. [1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Rock hyrax.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/rock-hyrax (accessed 2026-10-02)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Procavia capensis (Rock Hyrax).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41766/21285876 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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