Meet Ellie’s Cousin
We are going to meet a small, rodent look a-like today. But, guess what? It’s not a rodent, it’s one of Ellie’s closest living relatives! Are you ready to go on today’s adventure?
Cape Rock Hyrax Fun Facts:
- Cape Hyrax can grow up to 12 inches and weigh up to 13 pounds.
- Their teeth, toes and skull are structured like elephants.
- These little herbivores even have two elongated teeth like the tusks of an elephant.
- They live in family groups of 20-80 individuals.
- Hyrax have little glands on their backs they use to mark their territory.
- They do have elongated noses too. Males have longer noses than females.
- Hyrax have little suction cup like pads on their feet to help climb.
- These little prey animals can spot a predators over 900 feet away.
- They are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN>
These funny little critters of course is one of our favorites! We bet you would have never guessed they shared an ancestor with elephants.
I have never heard of this animal before. I love this: “Hyrax have little suction cup like pads on their feet to help climb.” How incredible is that??