Rock Hyrax / Rock Dassie

Afrikaans name: Klipdassie

Rock Hyrax or Rock Dassie

Photo © flyinger - Fotolia.com

Procavia capensis

Interesting facts about Dassies

The Rock Hyrax is most often referred to as the 'dassie'. It is also sometimes called the Cape Hyrax.

The Elephant is supposedly the closest relation to the dassie. It is hard to see how this is so. It's just as well Elephants don't hang round on top of rocks.

Dassies are most often found in rocky areas which gives them places to hide from predators.

They live in colonies of 10 or more. Some individuals act as lookouts while the others forage for food. If danger approaches they give a warning signal and all the dassies run to safety.

The Rock Hyrax feeds on grass and other plant material.

Females give birth to 2 or 3 young.

References and further reading

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 24

Wild Ways - 2nd Edition - Author: Peter Apps - Published: 2000 - Page: 123

Tracks and Tracking in Southern Africa - Author: Louis Liebenberg - Published: 2000 - Page: 47

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 33

The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Burger Cillie - Published: 2011 - Page: 176

South African Animals in the Wild - Author: Anthony Bannister - Published: 1985 - Page: 100

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 79

Signs of the Wild - 5th Edition - Author: Clive Walker - Published: 1996 - Page: 124

Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southe - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Published: 1991 - Page: 420

Signs of the Wild - 3rd Edition - Author: Clive Walker - Published: 1986 - Page: 125

Mammals of the Kruger and other National Parks - Author: The National Parks Board - Published: 1980 - Page: 70

Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Burger Cillie - Published: 1987 - Page: 63

Land Mammals of Southern Africa - A field guide - Author: Reay HN Smithers - Published: 1986 - Page: 135

Kruger National Park Questions and Answers - Author: P.F. Fourie - Published: 1987 - Page: 327

Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 82

Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 2001 - Page: 166

Field Guide to the Mammals of the Kruger National Park - Author: U. de V. Pienaar et al. - Published: 1987 - Page: 105

Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 1997 - Page: 286

A Field Guide to the Eastern Cape Coast - Author: R. Lubke, F. Gess & M. Bruton - Published: 1988 - Page: 297

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 156

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 49

Caravan & Outdoor Life - Issue 622 - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 58

Chris and Tilde Stuarts Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - 1st Edit - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 1988 - Page: 166

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List of South African Mammals