What are the types of Hyraxes? What species of Hyraxes are there?
And why do some of them scream “WAWA” while others merely chirp, meow, and bite? Or why do some Hyraxes look so scruffy, while others look like squirrels? Here is a list of the different species of hyraxes that exist in the world.
The Three Hyrax Genera
Procavia: The Rock Hyrax
Procavia: The Rock Hyrax
The Rock Hyrax is one of the more iconic Hyraxes. They are heavy set, with a short neck, and small rounded ears. They look more scruffy than their bush hyrax cousins, but they often live in much larger egalitarian groups (10-80 individuals). They can be heard screaming, chirping and even meowing.
Not only are they not endangered, but they’re common throughout Africa and the Middle East. Even sometimes seen as a pest. They are the only Afrotherian, to have settled in the Middle East!
Heterohyrax: Yellow-Spotted Rock Hyrax
Heterohyrax: Yellow-Spotted Rock Hyrax
The Yellow Spotted Rock Hyrax, also known as a Bush Hyrax, is the hyrax you’ll often see screaming “WAWA.” They have larger ears, a smaller muzzle, and a lighter-set build than the Rock Hyrax.
They are adept climbers, with sticky paws, and have a raised dorsal gland on their back, that emits a territorial smell.
They typically live in patriarchal societies of 20-50 individuals. These groups are made up of a dominant male, several females, hyrax pups of both sexes, and several other males on the periphery of the group.
And of all the hyraxes, these are the ones to scream “WAWA” more often than the others.
They cry “mama!”
While other small prey animals often stay silent, Hyraxes sing calls throughout the night. They are very vocal creatures. Adult hyraxes sing unique songs made up of bouts of vocalizations. Younger hyraxes cry “mama!” when in need.
Bush hyraxes are the most popular hyraxes in Instagram Reels and Tiktok Videos today.
Dendrohyrax: The Tree Hyrax
Dendrohyrax: The Tree Hyrax
Tree Hyraxes look much more rodent-like than their rock hyrax cousins. They are nocturnal animals, and much more timid than rock hyraxes. Rather than be distinguished by their features, they’re often distinguished by their sounds. Some tree hyraxes shriek, and other tree hyraxes bark!
Unlike in the two rock hyrax genera, there are several hyrax species in the single Tree Hyrax genus. You can tell a tree hyrax apart from his rock hyrax cousins by the fact that they typically boast more pointy features. Especially around their snouts, which are very rodent like as opposed to rock hyraxes.
Benin Tree Hyrax
Benin Tree Hyrax
Distinguished from other Tree Hyraxes by their unique calls of rattles and barks, stouter skull, and lighter fur.
The Benin Tree Hyrax is a newly discovered species of Hyrax. It lives only between the Niger River and the Volta River in West Africa, within the countries of Benin, Ghana, southern Togo, and southwestern Nigeria.
Photo credit to Oates et al. from their 2022 discovery of the new Hyrax species.
Eastern Tree Hyrax
Eastern Tree Hyrax
Eastern Tree Hyraxes have a dark, almost black coat. They are extremely localized to a forest in Kenya and Tanzania. They are also under the IUCN Near Threatened designation, due to deforestation and hunting.
Southern Tree Hyrax
Southern Tree Hyrax
Southern Tree Hyraxes sport a grizzled coat, and cute guinea pig appearance. They are nocturnal animals, who like to bounce quickly between cover.
But don’t let his appearance fool you! Southern Tree hyraxes vocalize in a series of loud, blood-curdling shrieks and screams!
Western Tree Hyrax
Western Tree Hyrax
Western Tree Hyraxes are small pointy animals, that are rat-like in appearance. They can be distinguished by their lack of fur around their feet and snouts. Unlike other hyraxes, Western Tree hyraxes are solitary–only found in groups of two or three if any.
They live throughout Central Africa, around the rainforests of the Gulf of Guinea.
But most interestingly, Western Tree Hyraxes have been spotted being captured and groomed by chimpanzees in Bossou, Guinea as a form of a primitive pet!
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