The animal world is so amazing! Most of us know that wolves and dogs are closely related, both being Canids. I promised a 6-year-old friend that I would share my favorite animal. However, it’s very hard when you love them all. I will say that an animal that I fell in love with when I was a child was the rock hyrax. The movie that I loved and also that shaped my future, was Born Free. The rock hyrax appeared on the screen. I couldn’t wait to learn about it.

The rock hyrax is an adorable small mammal. They are native to over 25 African countries. The rock hyrax (also called a Dassie and Rock Rabbit) are found mostly in Eastern Africa. There are three hyrax species; two are known for living in rock outcropping and the bush (what they call the forest areas in Africa), while the third is a tree hyrax.

I’m going to describe what they look like. Try to picture a rock hyrax in your mind as I describe them. It will be fun! They are kind of round in shape, a bit like a wombat, but much smaller. They look a little like an extra-large guinea pig, because they have no tail. They have grayish-to-yellowish coats and round ears. Are you picturing them in your head? Before I describe them anymore, you aren’t going to believe what animal is considered to be their closest living relative!

The elephant! Yes, I said the elephant!

When you take a closer look there are some surprising similarities. The rock hyrax and the elephant have tusks that grow from their incisor teeth (which are the front teeth). With other mammals that have tusks, the tusks grow from the canine teeth (the sharp long teeth that you can find on our pets and ourselves). Take a look in the mirror!

Most people think that an elephant must be so loud when they walk. However, they are quite quiet considering how big they are. Not only do they have big flat feet, they walk on their toes! I know, it doesn’t look like it! If you look up the elephant’s skeletal structure you will see it! The rock hyrax has flattened hoof-like nails that are much like those on the tips of elephant’s toes, whereas other small mammals have curved claws or hooves. There are also cool things about the skull of the rock hyrax that are very much like elephants.

The rock hyrax and elephant are both herbivores, eating grasses and vegetation. The rock hyrax and elephant both live in large social groups.

Remember how I said that I had many favorite animals? One of my other favorite animals as a child was the manatee. The manatee is an amazing slow-moving mammal that lives in the water. Please read more about them. They are so unique and need our help to protect them.

I couldn’t believe it when I read about them when I was a child. Manatee are also closely related to the elephants Wow! One thing that surprises most people: the manatee have small toenails at the tip of their flippers. There are “fingers” hidden under a solid layer of skin! Learning about animals is like a puzzle!

The manatee and dugong are very similar and closely related. There is one more animal that is the last of the very closely related animals to the elephant, manatee and rock hyrax. Do you have a guess or an idea of what that is?

The aardvark!

I hope that this made you even more curious!

The next time that you are at the zoo, take a look at how the toes are on the elephants and there are some great signs and learning stations at the zoo that teach more about the elephant.

Please look up the rock hyrax, manatee and the aardvark and of course the elephant! It is very fun and helpful to wildlife when we learn more about them. I like to learn from books and the internet. There are many excellent sites that are attached to zoos and wildlife organizations. Have fun learning even more!