Simon says: Let's say hi to the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) also known as rock rabbit

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The rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) also known as rock rabbit

At first glance, this little guy might look like a large guinea pig or a rabbit, but you’d never guess who its closest living relative is... the ELEPHANT!

Here are 3 wild facts about the Rock Hyrax:

Despite its size, the hyrax shares a surprising ancestor with elephants & manatees. Like its massive cousin, it has tiny tusk-like teeth & similar skull & toe structures

He is a master of his rocky habitat, thanks to his rubbery, sweat-gland-covered feet that act like suction cups, allowing him to scale steep cliffs with ease.

The Rock Hyrax is mentioned multiple times in the Bible. In Leviticus 11:5 it is described as unclean because it "chews the cud" but does not have a split hoof (though they aren't true ruminants, their digestive process looks very similar!) .

“The high mountains are for the wild goats; the cliffs are a refuge for the hyrax” Psalm 104:18

In Proverbs 30:26, they are praised for their wisdom, described as a "feeble folk" who "make their houses in the rocks," finding safety & strength in the crags.

They have a polygynandrous mating system, where both males & females mate with multiple partners during a short, annual breeding season that lasts about a month.

Colonies are typically made up of a dominant male, several females, & their young. Other males may be subordinate or live on the periphery, waiting for an opportunity to mate.

Dominant territorial males have better mating success, but their success decreases if they have higher-ranking competitors nearby. After a long gestation of about 7-8 months (212-245 days), females give birth to 1-6 highly developed pups that are born with fur & their eyes open.

They are primarily grazers & browsers, feeding on a wide variety of vegetation, including grasses, herbs, shrubs, fruits, berries, buds & shoots
Want to walk in the tracks of a hyrax? Let’s Imagine Israel together!

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