ORDER: Hyracoidea
FAMILY: Procaviidae
GENUS: Procavia
SPECIES: capensis
A small mammal with the general appearance of a
woodchuck or
marmot. Length is 49 cm (19 in.), weight 3 kg (6.6 lb.). mature males have thicker necks, blunter features, larger tusks, and bigger guttural pouches to amplify their call. Coat is brownish-gray or yellow-brown with paler underparts
Lives in rocky habitats in
Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Diet is mainly
grasses, but will also eat sedges, herbs and tree leaves. Can get sufficient water from these plants, but when wate is available, will drink. Eat very quickly in the morning and early afternoon, then are mostly seditary in the late day to conseve energy. Can exists in enviroments normally too vegtatively sparse for mammals.
Organizes into colonies, which generally consist of one territorial male, plus several females and their young. Once males reach adolesence, they are forced to leave. Seasonal breeds, and births within a colony are syncronized. Litters range from 1 to 6 young, gestation period of 7 to 8 months.