Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax
Heterohyrax brucei
| Scientific name | Heterohyrax brucei |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Hyracoidea |
| Family | Procaviidae |
| Size | Head-body about 32-56 cm; weight about 1.3-2.4 kg |
How to identify
Small, guinea-pig-like mammal with grey-brown fur, a pale creamy-white spot above each eye, and pale underparts; it has no visible tail.
Habitat
Rocky outcrops (kopjes), boulder piles, and cliffs in savanna and dry bush
Diet
Mainly a browser, eating leaves, twigs, and fruit, with some grass
When it is active
Diurnal; basks on rocks in the morning and lives in colonies, often alongside rock hyraxes
Where it lives
Eastern and northeastern Africa, from Egypt and the Horn south through Kenya and Tanzania
How to spot it
Scan kopjes and rocky lodges in the Serengeti and Tsavo mid-morning, when colonies emerge to bask on warm rocks
Photography tips
Get level with the rocks for an intimate view; warm morning light picks out the fur texture and the pale brow spot
Threats
No major threats; common on rocky habitats, though locally hunted and preyed on by eagles and leopards
Similar species
Rock Hyrax is similar but lacks the pale eye-spot and has a dark dorsal spot; the yellow-spotted species shows a distinct white brow patch.
