Hyrax

Imagine a fluffy animal that looks a bit like a guinea pig or a rabbit, but guess what? Its closest living relatives are HUGE elephants and manatees! These little critters are called hyraxes. There are three different kinds: the rock hyrax, the tree hyrax, and the red tree hyrax. They are super cute and love to sunbathe!

Hyraxes live in Africa and the Middle East. You can find them in rocky areas, like cliffs and boulders, where they can hide from predators. Some hyraxes also love to climb trees, especially the tree hyraxes. They need warm places to live because they can't make their own body heat very well, so they love basking in the sun!

Hyraxes are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. Their favorite snacks include leaves, grass, fruits, and flowers. They have special teeth that help them chew tough plants. Since they can't control their body temperature, they often need to eat in the morning and evening when it's not too hot or too cold.

Hyraxes have amazing feet! The bottoms of their feet are soft and rubbery, like little suction cups. This helps them climb rocks and trees really fast. They also have special toes with long claws that help them grip. When they feel scared, they can quickly scamper into tiny cracks and holes to stay safe.