Main Characteristics

Yellow-Spotted Rock Hyraxes have a body length between 30 and 38 cms (12 - 15 inches) and they weigh approximately 2.5 kgs (5.5 lbs). Their fur is short, thick and pale grey/brown in colour.

On the soles of their feet they have large, soft pads which are kept moist by secretions. These pads help them grip onto and climb up the rocky surfaces of their habitat.

They have good eyesight and hearing and they will fiercely fight off any predators that attack them. They are always alert on they have a high pitched, piercing call that alerts other hyraxes to any danger.

Habitat

The Yellow-Spotted Rock Hyrax is found in the rocky areas of east, central and southern Africa and they live in large, gregarious groups.

Diet

The diet of a Yellow-Spotted Rock Hyrax mainly consists of grasses and other types of vegetation.

Breeding

After a gestation period of 6.5 - 7.5 months, 1 - 4 young hyraxes are born. At birth they are well developed and within several hours they are able to follow adults around. Yellow-Spotted Rock Hyraxes reach sexual maturity at approximately 15 months old.

Predators

Predators of Yellow-Spotted Rock Hyrax include birds of prey, leopards, african wild dogs, caracals, servals, snakes and humans.

Subspecies

There are 25 subspecies of the Yellow-Spotted Rock Hyrax:

Heterohyrax brucei albipes
Heterohyrax brucei antineae
Heterohyrax brucei bakeri
Heterohyrax brucei bocaqei
Heterohyrax brucei brucei
Heterohyrax brucei chapini
Heterohyrax brucei dieseneri
Heterohyrax brucei frommi
Heterohyrax brucei granti
Heterohyrax brucei hindei
Heterohyrax brucei hoogstraali
Heterohyrax brucei kempi
Heterohyrax brucei lademanni
Heterohyrax brucei manninqi
Heterohyrax brucei mossambicus
Heterohyrax brucei muenzneri
Heterohyrax brucei princeps
Heterohyrax brucei prittwitzi
Heterohyrax brucei pumilus
Heterohyrax brucei ruddi
Heterohyrax brucei rudolfi
Heterohyrax brucei somalicus
Heterohyrax brucei ssonqeae
Heterohyrax brucei thomasi
Heterohyrax brucei victorianjansae

Interesting Facts

Yellow-Spotted Rock Hyraxes are also known as:
Yellow-Spotted Hyrax
Yellow-Spotted Dassie
Yellow-Spotted Rock Dassie
Bush Hyrax
Bush Dassie
Hoggar Hyrax

Hyraxes are within the group of mammals known as Afrotheria, as are elephants, elephant shrews, aardvark and dugong and manatees.