Rock hyrax
Amazing fact
The Cape hyrax has sweaty foot pads that help it grip rocks.
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
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An illustration based on the real animal.
A little discovery to share.
The Cape hyrax has sweaty foot pads that help it grip rocks.
THE REAL WORLD
The real Rock hyrax
- Scientific name
- Procavia capensis
- Japanese name
- ケープハイラックス
- Group
- Land mammals
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Hyracoidea
- Family
- Procaviidae
- Genus
- Procavia
Where the name “Rock hyrax” comes from
The English word “hyrax” comes from a Greek word meaning “shrewmouse”.
University of Michigan Animal Diversity WebIt lives in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and is thought to be related to elephants.
Its toes have rounded nails like an elephant's, and it has long, strong, tusk-like front teeth.
It lives in groups in the cracks of rocky outcrops and cliffs, and mainly eats grasses.
How the Rock hyrax lives
After leaving its shelter in the morning, it often sunbathes. After rain, it may eat new shoots and leaves. It often rests in the shade during the hottest part of the day.
University of Michigan Animal Diversity WebBasic data
- Size
- Head and body length: 44–54 cm上野動物園
- Weight
- 1.8–5.4 kg上野動物園
- Active
- By day (diurnal)University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
- Diet
- Grasses上野動物園
- Range
- Central and southern Africa上野動物園
Where the Rock hyrax has been recorded
Records: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY 4.0 records, retrieved 2026-11-07). Map: Natural EarthSee the records on GBIF
Watch wild animals from a distance. Do not touch or feed them, and take care of the places where they live.
Names around the world
- 日本語
- ケープハイラックス
- 简体中文
- 蹄兔
- 繁體中文
- 蹄兔
- 한국어
- 바위너구리
- Français
- Daman de rocher
- Deutsch
- Klippschliefer
- Português (Brasil)
- Damão-do-cabo
- Italiano
- Irace del Capo
- العربية
- وبر صخري
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Imbila batu
- Русский
- Капский даман
- Türkçe
- Güney Afrika Damanı
- ไทย
- ไฮแรกซ์หิน
Names come from Wikidata and iNaturalist records. Where a language has no recorded name, we use the scientific name.
Sources and how we check
- 上野動物園 — ケープハイラックスChecked: 2026-11-03
- University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web — Procavia capensisChecked: 2026-11-03
We check each fact against its source. The illustrations simplify how the real animal looks.
The classification (class, order, family, genus) follows Wikidata records, checked against GBIF. Classifications can change as research goes on.
The basic data are the values given in each source. They vary with how the animal is measured, whether it is male or female, and whether it lives in the wild or in captivity.
This page was translated from the original Japanese with the help of AI.
Report a mistakeWhen you meet the Rock hyrax, look for this
- Look for the long black whiskers around its mouth.
Animals do different things from day to day, so you may not always see this.
University of Michigan Animal Diversity WebEXHIBIT INFORMATION
Places that keep or show the Rock hyrax
Zoos, aquariums and other places whose official websites say they keep or show this animal.
Displays can change with the animals’ health and the seasons. Check each facility’s official website before you go.
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