Tree hyrax

Steppe forest tree hyrax ( Dendrohyrax arboreus )

The tree hyrax ( Dendrohyrax ) are a genus of hyrax that inhabits tropical rain forests in Africa.

Species

The following two species are expected here:

• Common tree hyrax ( Dendrohyrax dorsalis) ( Fraser, 1855), West and Central Africa
• Steppe forest tree hyrax ( Dendrohyrax arboreus ) (A. Smith, 1827), East Africa

The mountain forest tree hyrax (D. validus a ) is no longer recognized as a valid type and instead considered a subspecies of the steppe - forest Baumschliefers.

Description

Tree Hyrax reach a head -body length of 40 to 60 cm and a weight of 1.5 to 4.5 kg. The tail is only a short stub with one to three centimeters in length. The coat color of the top is gray with scattered yellow and black hair. A gland in the back of the body is marked with white hair. Some specimens have a skin change between a dark and a yellow variant. The belly is light brown to whitish.

In the living tree hyraxes are very different from cliff and bush hyraxes. They are mostly nocturnal and spend most of their lives in the branches of trees, where they eat leaves, fruit and twigs. Only occasionally climb tree hyrax also down and wander around on the ground to move the tree or to tap other sources of food. While other hyraxes live in colonies and are very sociable, tree hyraxes are predominantly loner; but occasionally they are found in pairs or groups of three.

The inhabited forests are located in the lowlands and up to 4,500 meters high mountains. Steppe forest tree hyrax give high emitting sounds that probably serve to mark the terrain. Depending on the nature of one to three young are born per litter. The gestation period varies between seven and eight months. Hatchlings have reached the size of adult specimens after approximately 120 days and are suckled still about a month longer. The oldest specimen in captivity lived for 12 years and three months.

Because of the hidden life is about exact population figures not known. However, it is assumed that the progressive destruction of the rain forests also threatens the tree hyrax. The IUCN lists only the first two types and none of them as endangered.