Procavia capensis

Rock Hyrax

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WILL'S SKULL PAGE

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The hyraxes, described by the OED as "stumpy", form a small group with unusual characteristics whose relationships to other mammal groups were obscure until the geneticist cavalry rode to the rescue. Now they are obscured by a forest of "groups" and "clades", but it's probably progress - certainly the family name linking them to rodents is erroneous. All but one species are African.

hyrax lateral view

1. Rock Hyrax skull, lateral view.
 
Click for larger image

hyrax lateral view

1. Rock Hyrax skull, oblique view.
 
Click for larger image

Internet Resources

Standard references :
American Society of Mammalogists Monographs
Smithsonian / Wilson & Reeder's Taxonomic List
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web

Taxonomy:
Superorder - Afrotheria (african mammals)
Order - Hyracoidea (hyrax-like)
Family - Procaviidae (first rodents)

Scientific Name:
Hyrax "shrew-mouse" (Greek)
capensis "of the cape" (S. Africa)

Dental Formula
U 1.0.4.3 - L 2.0.4.3

Measurements:  (defined)
Condylobasal length - 73.4mm
Overall width - 42.9mm (more)

Collection Data
Stage - Adult
Collector - Joey Williams

 

Skull Measurements (defined)

all measurements in mm

Specimen

CB

ZW

JL

IW

PC

NL

UT

Sex

Comments

illustrated

73.4

42.9

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