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Hyracoidea

Hyracoidea. Fallon Daniels BIO 528 Mammology Dr. D. Smith January 10, 2007. Classification. Kingdom: Anamalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Subclass: Theria Infraclass: Euthia Order: Hyracodia Family: Procaviidae Genus: Procavia

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Hyracoidea

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  1. Hyracoidea Fallon Daniels BIO 528 Mammology Dr. D. Smith January 10, 2007

  2. Classification Kingdom: Anamalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Subclass: Theria Infraclass: Euthia Order: Hyracodia Family: Procaviidae Genus: Procavia Procavia capensis, Cape Hyrax Genus: Heterohyrax Heterohyrax brucei, Yellow Spotted Rock Hyrax Genus: Dendrohyrax Dendrohyrax arboreus, Southern tree hyrax Dendrohyrax dorsalis, Western tree hyrax Dendrohyrax validus, Eastern tree hyrax

  3. Characteristics of Hyrax • Five species known as dassies or conies (fossil range from Eocene period to recent) • Small to medium sized • Long woolly gray or brown fur with vibrissae all over body • Dorsal glands surrounded by hairs that rais upon excitement • Short lets, rudimentary tail, round ears • Herbivores • Plantigrade and equipped for digging • Five toes on fore feet • Three toed hind feet with hoof like nails • Specialized muscles and sweat glands on feet to increase friction against substrate through suctioning • Skeletal Features: • Average skull length of 7.6 cm • Dorsally concave cranium • 34 to 38 teeth • Upper incisors are tusk like • Lophodont molar teeth for herbivore diet • Complex digestive system for microbial digestion: • Forestomach, caecum, paired colonic appendages

  4. Unique Characteristics • Ectothermic mammals (tree hyrax) • Poor ability to regulate temperature • Possible predators (canine teeth) • Do no have well developed incisors typical of browsing and grazing mammals • Closest living relatives of the elephant • Toenails, excellent hearing, sensitive pads on feet, small tusks, well developed memory, high brain function and bone physiology • Bush hyrax considered near ungulate • Inability to interbreed due to different reproductive anatomy

  5. Example of hyrax foot

  6. Rock/ Cape HyraxProcavia capensis • 30 to 60 cm • 2- 12 lbs. • Diurnal • Do not burrow • Life span of ten years • Browsers and grazers • Canine teeth • Hyposdont dentition • Diet: fruits, vegetables, sometime invertebrates

  7. Bush/ Yellow Spotted HyraxHeterohyrax brucei • 32 to 57 cm • 4.4 to 7.7 lbs • Diurnal • Life span of nine to fourteen years • Browsers • Brachydont dentition • Diet supplied by Acacia tortillis and Allophyus trees: leaves, fruits, stems and twigs

  8. Tree HyraxDendrohyrax arboreus Dendrohyrax dorsalis Dendrohyrax validus • 32- 60 cm • 3.7 to 8.0 lbs • Nocturnal • Unknown longevity • Solitary • Browsers • Brachydont dentition • Diet: leaves, buds, twigs, fuit from forbs and trees

  9. Tree Hyrax continued.

  10. Skeletal Physiology of the Hyrax

  11. Skeletal Physiology Common skull and dental features of the Hyrax

  12. Skeletal Physiology Skull Variations Bush Hyrax Tree Hyrax Rock/ Cape Hyrax

  13. Distribution and Ecology • Bush/ Yellow Spotted Hyrax • Central Africa • Inhabits rocky hillsides and outcrops • Tree Hyrax • Kenya to South Africa • Inhabits arboreal areas • Nests in hollow trees • Also rock dwellers • Rock Hyrax • Coast of Africa and inland mountain regions • Dwells in rocky crevices • Tropical and subtropical regions • Lives in groups of 100 individuals

  14. Human Interest/ Economic Importance • Rock and Tree Hyrax have been reservoirs for parasitic diseases • Human interest: • Urine used for medicine in South Africa and Europe • Hunted for fur and food (Eastern Tree Hyrax) • Deforestation has kill habitats of tree hyrax • Predation: • The Black or Verreaux's eagle (Aquila verreauxii), Martial and Tawny Eagles, leopards, lions, jackals, Spotted hyena and several snake species.

  15. Sources/ Websites: • Myers, P. 2000. "Hyracoidea" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed January 10, 2007 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Hyracoidea.html. • http://www.calacademy.org/research/bmammals/afrotheria/Hyracoidea.html • http://www.toyotter.com/hyrax/ • http://www.sensesofwildness.com/africa/2_3/03_19.HTM • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrax • http://www.answers.com/topic/eastern-tree-hyrax • http://www.nhc.ed.ac.uk/index.php?page=24.134.166.170.281

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