rock hyrax
- noun
- /rɑk ˈhaɪræks/
- South African
:
dassie
- A group of rock hyraxes gathered near the boulders, keeping a lookout for potential predators.
- yellow-spotted rock hyrax
Examples
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The rock hyrax is often spotted sunbathing on the warm rocks during the day.
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Rock hyraxes are easily found in rocky outcrops, boulders, and stony hills, which provide easy cover from predators like leopards, eagles, mongooses, and other large birds.
Academic text (2003) -
In size, and probably in many other ways, it was highly similar to the rock hyrax.
Academic text (2009) -
"Rock hyraxes, incidentally, are thought to be the 'coneys' of the Bible that 'make their houses in the rocks.'"
Academic text (2009) -
They generally do not share habitats with the rock hyraxes, and in fact, neither is found in Zimbabwe.
Academic text (2009) -
Hyraxes even share nursery duties, as in the case of the two adult rock hyraxes watching over two juveniles.
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) -
In general, tree hyraxes live in trees and are nocturnal, while rock hyraxes live among boulders and are mainly diurnal.
Academic text (2003) -
In the rocky hills of Africa, the rock hyrax can be seen foraging for plants.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A small plant-eating mammal that lives on rocks in Africa and Asia
A small, furry mammal that lives on rocky hills and cliffs in Africa and the Middle East
A small furry animal from Africa and Asia that looks like a rodent but is related to elephants and manatees
A group of small mammals that live on rocks, often in colonies, including the rock hyrax
A small plant-eating mammal that lives on rocks in Africa and Asia
A small shy animal that lives among rocks and looks like a rabbit but is not a true rabbit
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is compositionally transparent: 'hyrax' names the animal and 'rock' specifies its typical rocky habitat, so the phrase simply denotes a hyrax associated with rocks. This modifier+animal pattern is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Rock hyrax gives a simple picture: hyrax was an old word for a small, mouse-like animal and rock shows where it lives, on stones and cliffs. So it literally means a small animal that lives on rocks, which is why people also call it 'rock rabbit' or 'dassie'.