hyrax
- noun
- /ˈhaɪræks/
- South African
:
hírax
- The rock hyrax is often seen sunbathing on rocky outcrops in Africa.
- Rock Hyrax
- Tree Hyrax
- Hyrax or Dassie
Examples
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The Tree Hyrax is known throughout the forests of East Africa for its unearthly screams and shrieks.
Academic text (2003) -
The two species of hyrax commonly found in East Africa are: Rock Hyrax or Dassie (Procavia capensis).
Academic text (2003) -
In size, and probably in many other ways, it was highly similar to the rock hyrax.
Academic text (2009) -
The call of the Tree Hyrax is without a doubt one of the most extraordinary noises.
Academic text (2003) -
How, then, could two very similar hyrax species maintain such a cozy association?
Academic text (2009) -
What especially fascinates me, however, is that they belong to two species of two different genera: the rock hyrax and the yellow-spotted rock hyrax.
Academic text (2009) -
The rock hyrax, P. capensis, ranges from southern and central sub-Saharan Africa to northeastern Africa, even into the Middle East.
Academic text (2009) -
Four hyrax species exist, and they fall within three genera: Procavia, Heterohyrax, and Dendrohyrax.
Academic text (2009) -
On average, too, an adult rock hyrax is about two feet long and weighs about seven and a half pounds, whereas the yellow-spotted hyrax is slightly smaller, reaching an adult weight of about six pounds and a length of just over a foot.
Academic text (2009) -
The yellow-spotted rock (or simply yellow-spotted, or bush) hyrax, H. brucei, has a more restricted distribution, especially in the north.
Academic text (2009)
Synonyms
1
9.9
A small plant-eating mammal that lives on rocks in Africa and Asia
A small furry animal from Africa and Asia that looks like a rodent but is related to elephants and manatees
A small mammal that eats plants and has hoof-like toes found in Africa and Asia
A small rock-dwelling animal in Africa that looks like a rodent but is related to hoofed animals
A small animal that eats plants and lives on rocks in Africa and the Middle East
Compounds
- South African
A small animal that eats plants and lives on rocks in Africa and the Middle East
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word hyrax comes from the old Greek word hýrax, which meant 'shrew' or 'shrewmouse' because people long ago thought it looked like a small rodent. So the name helps you remember a small, rock‑living mammal that looks rodent-like even though it is actually related to elephants.