Tree hyrax

Tree hyraxes[1]
Western tree hyrax, Dendrohyrax dorsalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Hyracoidea
Family: Procaviidae
Genus: Dendrohyrax
J. E. Gray, 1868
Type species
Hyrax arboreus
A. Smith, 1827
Species

The tree hyrax or tree dassie is a small nocturnal mammal native to Africa. Distantly related to elephants and sea cows, it comprises the four species in the genus Dendrohyrax, one of only three genera in the family Procaviidae, which is the only living family within the order Hyracoidea.

The four species are:

Image Common Name Scientific Name Distribution
Southern tree hyrax D. arboreus East and Southern Africa[2]
Eastern tree hyrax D. validus East Africa.[3][4]
Benin tree hyrax D. interfluvialis West Africa.[5]
Western tree hyrax D. dorsalis West and Central Africa[6]

Analysis of calls found that they could be divided into 'shrieking' hyraxes and 'barking' hyraxes, with the barkers being a genetically distinct fourth species.[7]

The tree hyrax has four-toed front feet and three-toed back feet with rounded nails, and rubbery soles that help it climb.[8]

  1. ^ Shoshani, J. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 87–88. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ Butynski, T.; Hoeck, H. & de Jong, Y.A. (2015). "Dendrohyrax arboreus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T6409A21282806. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T6409A21282806.en.
  3. ^ Roberts, D.; Topp-Jorgensen, E.; Moyer, D. (2013). "Dendrohyrax validus, Eastern Tree Hyrax". In Kingdon, J.; Happold, D.; Hoffmann, M.; Butynski, T.; Happold, M.; Kalina, J. (eds.). Mammals of Africa, Volue 1: Introductory Chapters and Adfrotheria. A&C Black. pp. 158–161. ISBN 978-1-4081-8996-2.
  4. ^ Hoeck, H.; Rovero, F.; Cordeiro, N.; Butynski, T.; Perkin, A.; Jones, T. (2015). "Dendrohyrax validus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T136599A21288090. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T136599A21288090.en.
  5. ^ Oates, John F.; Woodman, Neal; Gaubert, Philippe; Sargis, Eric J.; Wiafe, Edward D.; Lecompte, Emilie; Dowsett-Lemaire, Françoise; Dowsett, Robert J.; Gonedelé Bi, Sery; Ikemeh, Rachel A.; Djagoun, Chabi A. M. S.; Tomsett, Louise; Bearder, Simon K. (2022). "A new species of tree hyrax (Procaviidae: Dendrohyrax) from West Africa and the significance of the Niger–Volta interfluvium in mammalian biogeography". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 194 (2): 527–552. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab029.
  6. ^ Butynski, T.; Dowsett-Lemaire, F.; Hoeck, H. (2015). "Dendrohyrax dorsalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T6410A21282601. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T6410A21282601.en.
  7. ^ Rosti, Hanna; Pihlström, Henry; Bearder, Simon; Pellikka, Petri; Rikkinen, Jouko (December 2020). "Vocalization Analyses of Nocturnal Arboreal Mammals of the Taita Hills, Kenya". Diversity. 12 (12): 473. doi:10.3390/d12120473. hdl:10138/323576.
  8. ^ Estes, Richard D. (1999). The Safari Companion. Chelsea Green Publishing Company. ISBN 1-890132-44-6.