Working with ToPS (Threatened or Protected Species).
What do an Elephant and a Hyrax have in common?
No it's not the start of a bad joke, in fact the Hyrax is the Elephant's closest living relative on land! Scientists have discovered that if you trace back approximately 65 million years ago, they have the same origin.
Since their common ancestor, they have diverged greatly over time, however there are definitive similarities. Hyraxes are small, furry mammals that more closely resemble rodents than elephants, but although their bodies and behaviours are different in many ways, Hyraxes share some important features with Elephants.
The most visible is the appearance of a set of tusks, although the size of the Hyraxes tusks are quite different, and present as large vertical incisors instead, giving them their renowned grumpy look.
Their hind feet also give away their close relation. Referred to as “semi-digitigrade” (moving with an elevated heel that does not come into contact with the substrate), their bone structure leaves them both on their tip-toes, and both species also have extremely sensitive footpads.
Both the Elephant and the Hyrax have exceptional hearing and memories. While Elephants have giant brains and ears, it has been found that Hyraxes demonstrate significantly better brain functionality compared to other animals of a similar size .
Everyone knows that Elephants have the longest pregnancies of any living mammal, running between 21 and 22 months. The Hyrax doesn’t have to wait quite that long, but their gestation can last seven to eight months. This is exceptionally long for mammals of their size.
The Hyrax may be small, but he is also mighty!
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Pictured above: The characteristic grumpy face is partly due to the tusks, partly due to a lot of attitude!
Pictured below: The bottom of each foot is bare and has a moist, rubbery pad that lifts up in the center for a suction-cup effect to help the hyrax cling to smooth surfaces without slipping. They can even “chimney” up and down tight spaces. The hind foot is referred to as semi-digitigrade, meaning they walk on tip-toes.
