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What the sources say

Rock HyraxProcavia capensis

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Rock Hyrax profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 37 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Butynski, Betjes & Jong 2026

Butynski, Betjes & Jong (2026). Procavia capensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2026: e.T41766A278607316.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: stats.conservationStatus; GBIF copy of the Red List
The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates the rock hyrax Least Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: assessment year not stated: GBIF copy gives the category only

Source
02

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Rock hyrax. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

The page saysA stub-tailed, rabbit-like
The source sayssmall, stub-tailed, rabbit-like animals native to AfricaNote: tagline
The page sayswhose closest living relatives are elephants and manatees
The source saystheir closest living relatives are actually elephants and manateesNote: tagline; body; FAQ
The page saysNeither. It looks like a rodent, but its closest living relatives are elephants and manatees.
The source saysThough rock hyraxes resemble rodents, their closest living relatives are actually elephants and manatees.
The page saysRocky, scrub-covered areas across much of Africa, and in Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, the Sinai and the Arabian Peninsula.
The source saysRock hyraxes live throughout much of Africa and in Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas in rocky, scrub-covered areas.Note: stats.habitat; body
The page saysAn adult weighs roughly 2 to 5 kilograms and measures 30 to 56 centimeters for head and body together
The source saysAdult rock hyraxes weigh 4 to 12 pounds (2 to 5 kilograms). Their head and body size ranges from 12 to 22 inches (30 to 56 centimeter)
The page saysIts foot pads feel like rubber and stay damp with a gland's secretion, and the middle of each pad is hollowed into a suction cup
The source saysThe soles of their feet are rubber-like and are kept moist by a glandular secretion. There is also a hollow in the middle of the sole formed by a muscle arrangement that allows it to act like a suction cup.
The page saysTogether, these let a hyrax climb well and run and jump on steep, rugged rock
The source saysBoth of these characteristics make rock hyraxes very agile animals that climb well and run and jump skillfully, even on rugged and steep surfaces.
The page saysIts upper incisors grow continuously and look like small tusks
The source saysTheir upper incisors grow continuously and look like small tusks.
The page saysis a small, stub-tailed, rabbit-like animal from Africa
The source sayssmall, stub-tailed, rabbit-like animals native to Africa
The page saysThe species lives in rocky, scrub-covered areas across much of Africa, and in Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Sinai and the Arabian Peninsula
The source saysRock hyraxes live throughout much of Africa and in Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas in rocky, scrub-covered areas.

Source
03

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Rock hyrax. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysMostly grasses in the wet season, switching to fruits and leaves when the grass dries.
The source saysDuring the wet season, rock hyraxes eat mostly grass, but when the grass dries, they switch to browse materials: fruits and leaves.Note: stats.diet
The page saysColonies live among rocks and may hold up to 50 individuals
The source saysThey may live in colonies of up to 50 individuals
The page saysThey start the day with a group sunbathing session
The source saysEach day starts with a group sunbathing session for several hours.
The page saysadults are inactive about 95 percent of the time
The source saysAdult hyraxes are inactive 95 percent of the time.
The page saysthe dominant male stops between mouthfuls to scan for threats and gives a shrieking alarm when something worries him
The source saysthe dominant male pauses between bites to watch for danger. He sounds a shriek alarm if he sees anything of concern
The page saysrock climber
The source saysHyrax feet are built for rock climbingNote: tagline

Source
04

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Procavia capensis (rock hyrax). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysGrasses make up about 78 percent of the diet in the wet season and 57 percent in the dry season, according to Animal Diversity Web
The source saysGrasses make up 78% of the diet during the wet season, but only 57% during the dry season.
The page saysMales weigh about 4 kg and females about 3.6 kg, and the species is described as heavily built for its size.
The source saysThese hyraxes are heavily built for their size, weighing as much as 4.3 kg. Males (4 kg) are slightly larger than females (3.6 kg)

Source
05

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

AnAge entry for Procavia capensis. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysAnAge lists one captive that reached 14.8 years, and says wild animals have been reported to live for 8.5 years
The source saysIn the wild, animals have been reported to live for 8.5 years [ 0434 ]. One captive specimen lived for 14.8 years [ 0671 ].
The page saysAnAge gives a maximum longevity of 14.8 years, set in captivity. Reports from the wild give 8.5 years.
The source saysMaximum longevity 14.8 years (captivity) Source ref. 671 Sample size Medium Data quality Acceptable Observations In the wild, animals have been reported to live for 8.5 years

Source
06

Kershenbaum et al. 2012

Kershenbaum et al. (2012). Syntactic structure and geographical dialects in the songs of male rock hyraxes. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

The page saysMales sing songs whose syllable order differs between regions of Israel, like dialects.
The source saysSyntactic dialects exist, and the syntax of hyrax calls is significantly different between different regions in Israel.Note: stats.superpower
The page saysexamined the order of syllables in these songs with algorithms normally used on genetic sequences
The source saysWe adopted three algorithms, commonly used in genetic sequence analysis and information theory, to examine the order of syllables in hyrax calls.
The page saysThe syntax, meaning the way syllables are arranged, differed between regions of Israel, and the authors call these syntactic dialects
The source saysSyntactic dialects exist, and the syntax of hyrax calls is significantly different between different regions in Israel.
The page saysThe authors say this hints that hyraxes may learn their calls
The source sayssuggest the possibility of vocal production learning in the hyrax
The page saysMale rock hyraxes sing strings of syllables, and the order of those syllables differs from one region to another
The source saysSyntactic dialects exist, and the syntax of hyrax calls is significantly different between different regions in Israel.Note: vibe.reason

Source
07

Koren, Mokady & Geffen 2008

Koren, Mokady & Geffen (2008). Social status and cortisol levels in singing rock hyraxes. Hormones and Behavior.

The page saysa third of the adult males made a loud, elaborate call that the researchers labelled singing
The source saysa third of the adult male hyraxes also produces a rich, complex and loud vocalization we term 'singing'
The page saysIn one study population, about a third of the adult males sang
The source saysa third of the adult male hyraxes also produces a rich, complex and loud vocalization we term 'singing'Note: FAQ; 'at the study site' scope
The page saysAmong singing males, the dominant ones had the highest levels of cortisol, which the researchers used as a measure of basal stress.
The source saysOnly in singers, C levels are associated with social rank, with dominants showing the highest levels.Note: C = cortisol, defined in the abstract as basal stress
The page saysSingers were also, on average, older and more dominant than most silent adult males, and they mated more often
The source saysSingers are also on average older and more dominant than most other sexually mature non-singing males. Further, they copulate more than non-singers
The page sayswith singing males
The source saysa third of the adult male hyraxes also produces a rich, complex and loud vocalization we term 'singing'Note: tagline
The page sayssome males sing
The source saysa third of the adult male hyraxes also produces a rich, complex and loud vocalization we term 'singing'
The page saysthe rest stayed silent
The source saystheir C levels are higher than those of silent malesNote: FAQ 3
The page saysStress of domination
The source saysOur results support the 'stress of domination' hypothesisNote: blockquote lead-in

Source
08

Barocas et al. 2011

Barocas et al. (2011). Variance in Centrality within Rock Hyrax Social Networks Predicts Adult Longevity. PLoS ONE.

The page saysIn 11 years of data on one wild population in Israel, hyraxes in groups where members had more equal social ties lived longer.
The source saysWe applied network theory using 11 years of behavioral data to quantify the centrality of individuals within groups, and found adult longevity to be inversely correlated to the variance in centrality. In other words, animals in groups with more equal associations lived longer.
The page saysone wild population in Israel
The source saysWe analyzed social bonds in a wild rock hyrax ( Procavia capensis ) population using 11 years of accumulated behavioral data collected in Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Israel.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.