Hyracoidea is an order of small, stout, herbivorous mammals commonly called hyraxes or dassies, placed in the family Procaviidae. Typically 30 to 70 centimeters long and weighing 2 to 5 kilograms, hyraxes resemble marmots or oversized pikas but are more closely related to elephants and sirenians, and rock-dwelling species live on outcrops such as cliffs in Ethiopia and the granite koppies of southern Africa.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Scientific Name Geographic DistributionAll modern hyraxes are members of the family Procaviidae, the only living family within Hyracoidea, and are found only in Africa and the Middle East. 1 Defining CharacteristicsIt includes the living hyraxes, placed within the family Procaviidae, and several extinct taxa. 1 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceSmall modern hyraxes share numerous features with elephants, such as toenails, excellent hearing, sensitive foot pads, small tusks, good memory and higher brain function. 1 Classification
Living or Extinct Connections
Parent Taxon Of
Source Rock hyrax (Wikidata)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Hyracoidea (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead section, first sentence
Hyracoidea is a taxonomic order of mammals.
Lead section, second sentence
It includes the living hyraxes, placed within the family Procaviidae, and several extinct taxa.
Evolutionary history section, third paragraph
the small modern hyraxes share numerous features with elephants, such as toenails, excellent hearing, sensitive pads on their feet, small tusks, good memory, higher brain functions compared with other similar mammals, and the shape of some of their bones.
Lead section, second paragraph
All modern hyraxes are members of the family Procaviidae (the only living family within Hyracoidea) and are found only in Africa and the Middle East.
In Group: Afrotherian Orders, Lead
Hyracoidea is a taxonomic order of mammals.
View the Source 2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ53099, descriptionView the Source Wikidata: Hyracoidea
Rock hyrax (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis), Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.