My owner is a home inspector in San Diego.Have no fear loyal readers.

Even though I took some time off to celebrate my first anniversary....

and some time to actually do quite a few home inspections and reports....

and some time to visit a couple of past Clients....

and some time to take care of a sick Zoey the Cool Cat....

and some time to watch the San Diego Chargers beat the New York Giants...

and some time to Play in the Rain.....

I have been going to the San Diego Zoo regularly for a nice, leisurely walk, and to take lots of pictures to share.

Today we'll look at the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis).

Wallace the rock hyrax at the San Diego Zoo

The rock hyrax is the only living Procavia species, and is native to Africa and the Middle East, living in large colonies of up to 80 individuals in rocky outcroppings. Just like meerkats, to which they are not related, they also use sentries to warn the group about nearby predators.

They get up to two feet long and weigh up to nine pounds. They have a small pair of tusk-like incisors, similar to the elephant, to which they are distantly related.

Other interesting facts about the rock hyrax:

  1. Not endangered, and even considered a minor pest in Ethiopia, Israel, and Jordan.
  2. Fur color varies widely with their environment, dark brown in wet environments and light brown in desert environments.
  3. Individual size has a direct correlation to rainfall and food availability.
  4. Hyraxes are herbivores and are not shy about entering residential gardens to feed on tree leaves.
  5. Rock hyraxes are very noisy and sociable, with 21 different vocal signals, called songs, being documented.
  6. Mentioned in the Bible (depending on which version of the Bible you have, and inquiring minds want to know why we have different versions of the Bible) in Leviticus 11:5 as the "rock badger."
  7. Spends up to 95% of its time resting. Hmmm. More than Zoey the Cool Cat?
  8. They have incomplete body temperature regulation, so they are often seen sunning themselves on rocky outcroppings.
  9. Rock hyraxes produce large quantities of hyraceum, which is a sticky mass of dung and urine, that has been used in the treatment of several medical disorders, including epilepsy and convulsions.

Wallace the rock hyrax at the San Diego Zoo 

♫♫☼☼♪♪☼☼♫♫

Links to more posts are below

Twenty most recent posts

  1. San Diego home inspection FAQs: After the home inspection is done, what's the best way to get repairs done?
  2. The ActiveRain Nature Station: Nature's accupuncturist
  3. Please help welcome my 98th Invitee to ActiveRain - Featured
  4. My memories of Fort Hood
  5. Why didn't you inspect the refrigerator?
  6. The ActiveRain Nature Station: Finding your oasis
  7. Have you programmed your ActiveRain TV stations?
  8. The ActiveRain Nature Channel: The Jumping Cholla
  9. Turning a competitor's bad home inspection into an education
  10. The ActiveRain Nature Channel: The Joshua Tree
  11. It must be lottery time!
  12. Speechless Sunday: Somewhere in a National Park
  13. It's a "Hunt for Red October." But where's Sean?
  14. Mornings with Mother and Father Nature: Have you visited your Grandparents recently?
  15. Good things happen when you are persistent and consistent
  16. Anyone need something to read and review from one of our own?
  17. Create a blog database for you and your Clients - Featured
  18. San Diego home inspection FAQs: Do you recommend a gas or electric home?
  19. Mornings with Mother and Father Nature: Remember your prom?
  20. Gotta love those helpful Clients!

My Favorite ActiveRain TV Stations

ActiveRan Travel Station

ActiveRain Convention Station

ActiveRain Guerrilla Marketing Station

ActiveRain Library Station

ActiveRain History Station

ActiveRain Nature Station

ActiveRain Symphony Station

 
This post has been included in California Information San Diego County, CA Information
Post is included in group: EXPRESS WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AT ACTIVERAIN
Post is included in group: Cosmic Cow Pie
Post is included in group: BananaTude
Post is included in group: ActiveRain Nature Station
Post is included in group: Active Rain Block Party

14 Comments on The ActiveRain Nature Station: Hyraceum, anyone?

NOV
09
252,947 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

So when they aren't sleeping 95% of the time they are eating and making wonderful product used for  medical disorders, interesting. Thanks for the my lesson and telling me things I would have never known if it were not for you.
8:23am • #1
Outside Blog

when I woke up this morning, I never even knew there was an animal named a rock hyrax, let alone that it was related, albeit distantly to the elephant... now I do ;-)
8:55am • #2
297,067 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I would be none too happy to be treated by Hyraceum, now that I know it's origins.  Ewwwww.
8:55am • #3
308,068 Points 4 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

What? Where am I?? Are we at the San Diego Zoo?? ;-)
9:15am • #4
449,786 Points 9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Russel:  That's a cute critter.  I bet it's really adorable when it's laying in those sunbeams.  Interesting that their waste is used in medical cures.  Didn't see that one coming.
10:38am • #5
463,369 Points 17 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Aaaww.... I want to hug it! But more importantly, what's wrong with Zoey?  =(
11:03am • #6
180,281 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Now I never would have guessed it was a distant relative of an elephant!  Also not to thrilled about the medical qualities of their by products.

Tell Zoey the Cool Cat get well soon!
11:47am • #7

Russel, you are a wonder. I never knew that stuff.

Give Zoey the Cool Cat a hug for me--poor thing; I hope she feels better soon. There's nothing sadder looking than a sick kitty.

Cheers,

Robin
5:20pm • #8
196,956 Points Outside Blog

I probably would be cured if I had to have that stuff rubbed on me. 
7:12pm • #9
191,893 Points 2 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Hey Russel, I enjoy your zoo posts immensely but there is one more important concern ....Zoey...sick?  Have you taken Zoey to the vet?  Is Zoey OK?  My 3 cats are very concerned and waiting to hear the latest on Zoey!
9:13pm • #10
NOV
10
347,205 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Russel, thanks, I found that interesting.  Thanks for taking the time to gather all that information about the rock hyrax.
1:41am • #11
8 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Russel,

I was wondering if you had been going to the zoo lately. Glad to see you made it! And what a cutie this is. I can't imagine some countries would call it a pest. Great pictures.
12:12pm • #12
NOV
11

Russel, what a great place to go for a leisurely walk.  That rock hyrax reminds me of our nutria in Louisiana.  Great photos and thanks for the interesting information.
10:13am • #13
NOV
16
640,679 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hey, Carl and Ceil - I know there are a lot of medical products that come from interesting places. What I've always wondered is, Who actually discovers the uses for some of these products?

Hey, Chris - So what you're saying is that ActiveRain rocks!

Hey, Alan - Lots of medical products come from interesting places, but then again, I suppose in this case, ignorance is, indeed, bliss.

Hey, Susie - Just wait until virtual reality really gets here!

Hey, Chris Ann - I love it when I'm able to surprise my readers. LOL

Hey, Lisa - Zoey the Cool Cat was sick for about four days - no food, no tummy rubs, no poop. Just slept and slept and slept, with her eyes watering. She's okay again, back to her formerly mischievous but photogenic self.

Hey, Larry - Maybe I should do a post on interesting uses of products that Mother and Father Nature provide naturally to us.

Hey, Robin - Actually, I was sadder than a sick kitty when the sick kitty was sick because she wouldn't let me roughhouse with her, hold her, or give her tummy rubs. I was sad, sad, sad.

Hey, Gene -There might be a lot of interesting things that cure us very quickly if we knew where they came from. LOL

Hey, Irene - Let your three cats know that Zoey the Cool Cat is okay. She was sick for about four days, but all is well now.

Hey, Tony and Darcy - Thanks for stopping by.

Hey, Carra - As my wise old grandmother said, "A pest is something you don't want in the area where it is." Here in America, pests include non-native species, even if they become naturalized because they like it here.

Hey, Sallie - Nutria are always the first thing I think of when I see monster rodents. My sister over in Slidell has Lake Pontchartrain as her back yard. The nutria are always swimming around their boat dock.
7:43am • #14

Leave a response…

(optional)
What does the graphic say?
 
Img_9340 Ambassador_large

Russel Ray, San Diego home inspector

San Diego, CA

More about me…

Russel Ray, Property Consultant

Address: 7000-31 Saranac Street, La Mesa, CA, 91942-8915

Office Phone: (619) 341-0173

Cell Phone: (619) 341-0173

Email Me



Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog