hyrax

American  

[hahy-raks] / ˈhaɪ ræks /

noun

hyraxes, plural hyraces plural

1. any of several species of small mammals of the order Hyracoidea, of Africa and the Mediterranean region, having short legs, ears, and tail, and hooflike nails on the toes.

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hyrax British  

/ ˈhaɪræks /

noun

1. Also called: dassie.   rock rabbit.  any agile herbivorous mammal of the family Procaviidae and order Hyracoidea, of Africa and SW Asia, such as Procavia capensis ( rock hyrax ). They resemble rodents but have feet with hooflike toes

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Etymology

Origin of hyrax

1825–35; < New Latin < Greek hýrax (genitive hýrakos ) shrewmouse

Example Sentences

Living in nomadic groups, the men use handmade bows and arrows to hunt Cape buffalo, baboons and the rodent-like hyrax.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

Keepers at Longleat Safari Park have welcomed the surprise arrival of Arabian rock hyrax triplets.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2021

I was in South Africa recently, and I visited Table Mountain, home to the rock hyrax, a small thing that looks like a rodent.

From Washington Post • Nov. 23, 2018

Numerous varieties of bugs and invertebrates have adapted to life here, and ibex, hyrax, wild boars, desert cats, hyenas, jackals, and wolves come to drink from the pools.

From Slate • Sep. 17, 2013

As an illustration of this, we might mention the wild-hound, the hyrax, the zerda, the fennec, the gnoo, and the aard-vark; and among birds, the serpent-eater, the bateleur eagle, and several other kinds.

From The Young Yagers A Narrative of Hunting Adventures in Southern Africa by Reid, Mayne