Hyracoidea Id code: amd140Procaviidae Procavia capensis (Pallas, 1766) (Eng) Cape hyrax, rock hyrax (Fre) Daman de rocher Taxonomic notes In accordance with Olds & Shoshani (1982) and Wilson & Reeder (1993) all the forms are included in this species. IUCN threat category Not listed. Available information The ecology of the species has been studied mainly in the eastern and southern part of its distribution range; some information is available for the northern part of the continent and for the Arabian Peninsula; almost nothing is known on its ecology in Western and Central Africa. East Africa: The species has been intensely studied in the Serengeti Plains. Habitat and diet are described in Hoeck (1975) and Turner & Watson (1965). Spacing patterns and social behaviour are discussed in Hoeck et al. (1982), while information on population dynamics, reproductive behaviour, and dispersal are found in Hoeck (1982, 1989). All the authors mentioned focused on the coexistence with the bush hyrax Heterohyrax brucei. Some information on habitat use is also found in Sale (1966) who studied the species on Mount Kenya. A few notes on its ecology and presence in Somalia are given by Funaioli (1971). Southern Africa: The only two specific studies on the ecology of the species concern its feeding habits (Fourie & Perrin, 1989) and the role of predators on population numbers (Palmer & Fairall, 1988). Notes on its ecology and presence in Karoo National Park (South Africa) are found in De Graaff & Rautenbach (1983); information on the species' ecology and distribution in South Africa and Lesotho is given by Lynch (1983, 1989, 1994), and Pringle (1974). A detailed account of the species' ecology and distribution in the subregion is found in Mills & Hes (1997) and Skinner & Smithers (1990). West and Central Africa: No specific studies on the species' ecology have been carried out in this part of its distribution range. Some notes on its presence in the Central African Republic are found in Spinage (1981). Northern Africa and Arabia: Ecology and distribution in Egypt are discussed by Osborn & Helmy (1980); Happold (1984) reported some data on its diet and habitat in the Sahara Desert. A brief account of the ecology of the species in the Arabian Peninsula is found in Harrison & Bates (1991) and Kingdon (1991). General information on the species ecology and distribution is found in Estes (1991), Hoeck (1984), Kingdon (1997) and Stuart & Stuart (1997). Olds & Shoshani (1982) review the literature and information available on the species. Known extent of occurrence 
The Cape hyrax ranges in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa and also occurs in the northern part of the continent with some isolated populations in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Niger, Chad and Sudan. Western Egypt represents its north-eastern limit (Wilson & Reeder, 1993; Kingdon, 1997). Its distribution map was obtained by overlaying the two maps from Kingdon (1997) and Olds & Shoshani (1982). It was revised by Dr. H. Hoeck (28 April ‘97) (Fig. 6.1.6.a). Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model This species occurs mainly in rocky outcrops within savanna zones, from low to montane areas throughout most of Africa; it avoids dense forest (Olds & Shoshani, 1982; Sale, 1966; Kingdon, 1997). Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned (Fig. 6.1.6.b) (6.1.6.a):
Tab 6.1.6.a: Cumulative size (km2) of areas pertaining to each environmental suitability class within the Extent of Occurrence.
Tab 6.1.6.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes. Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 6.1.6.c. Validation
Tab 6.1.6.c: Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model validation parameters. Comments and conservation issues This is the most common and widespread hyrax species and has the largest EO. As the species is mostly associated to rocky outcrops and cliffs, its distribution is badly modelled using vegetation types; indeed the Index of Accordance is only 49.01%. The map of suitability provided by the PC model based on a continent wide EO, is of relative use. Most of the known EO is classified as moderately suitable, but the species can be very abundant locally and it is not endangered. Fragmentation is apparently limited but the actual distribution within the EO is certainly not continuous as the EO would indicate. The distinction between the areas of certain and possible presence should also be more closely examined. Less than 8% of the AO in the areas of certain presence is included in protected areas.
Tab 6.1.6.d: Percent of environmental suitability classes (within EO) inside and outside the protected areas. References De Graaff G., Rautenbach I.L. (1983). A survey of mammals in the newly proclaimed Karoo National Park, South Africa. Ann. Mus. Roy. Afr. Cent.: 237, 89-99. Estes R.D. (1991). The Behaviour Guide to African Mammals. Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. The University of California Press. Fourie L.J., Perrin M.R. (1989). Quantitative and qualitative aspects of the diet of the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis Pallas, 1766) in the Mountain Zebra National Park. Rev. Zool. Africaine: 103 (4), 361-370. Funaioli U. (1971). Guida breve dei mammiferi della Somalia. Istituto Agronomico per l'Oltremare. Biblioteca Agraria Tropicale. Happold D.C.D. (1984). Small mammals. In: Cloudsley-Thompson J.L. (Ed.). Sahara Desert. Key environments series. Pergamon Press, Oxford: chap. 17, 251-276. Harrison D.L., Bates P.J.J. (1991). The mammals of Arabia, Second ed. Harrison Zoological Museum, Sevenoaks, United Kingdom. Hoeck H.N. (1975). Differential feeding behavior of the sympatric hyrax Procavia johnstoni and Heterohyrax brucei. Oecologia (Berlin): 22, 15-49. Hoeck H.N. (1982). Population dynamics, dispersal and genetic isolation in two species of hyrax (Heterohyrax brucei and Procavia johnstoni) on habitat islands in the Serengeti. Z. Tierpsychol.: 59, 177-210. Hoeck H.N. (1984). Hyraxes. In: Macdonald D.W. (Ed.). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. Facts on File, New York: vol . 2. Hoeck H.N. (1989). Demography and competition in hyrax. Oecologia (Berlin): 79, 353-360. Hoeck H.N., Klein H., Hoeck P. (1982). Flexible social organization in hyrax. Z. Tierpsychol.: 59, 265-298. Kingdon J. (1991). Arabian mammals. A natural history. Academic Press. Kingdon J. (1997). The Kingdon field guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, London and New York: Natural World. Lynch C.D. (1983). The mammals of the Orange Free State. Mem. van die Nasionale Mus., Bloemfontein: 18, 1-218. Lynch C.D. (1989). The mammals of the north-east Cape Province. Mem. van die Nasionale Mus., Bloemfontein: 25, 1-116. Lynch C.D. (1994). The mammals of Lesotho. Navorsinge van die Nasionale Museum Bloemfontein, Natural Sciences: 10 (4), 177-241. Mills G., Hes L. (1997). The complete book of Southern African mammals. Struik Publishers. Olds N., Shoshani J. (1982). Procavia capensis. Mammalian Species: 171, 1-7. Osborn D.J., Helmy I. (1980). The contemporary land mammals of Egypt (including Sinai). Fieldiana: Zoology: 1309, 1-579. Palmer R., Fairall N. (1988). Caracal and African wild cat diet in the Karoo National Park and the implications thereof for hyrax. S. Afr. J. Wild. Res.: 18(1), 30-34. Pringle J.A. (1974). The distribution of mammals in Natal. Part I. Primates, Hyracoidea, Lagomorpha (except Lepus), Pholidota and Tubulidentata. Ann. Natal Mus.: 22(1), 173-186. Sale J.B. (1966). The habitat of the rock hyrax. J E Afr Nat Hist Soc: 25, 205-214. Skinner J.D., Smithers R.H.N. (1990). The mammals of the Southern African subregion. University of Pretoria, Pretoria. Spinage C.A. (1981). Some faunal isolates of the Central African Republic. Afr. J. Ecol.: 19, 125-132. Stuart C., Stuart T. (1997). Field guide to the larger mammals of Africa. Struik Publishers. Turner M.G., Watson R.M. (1965). An introductory study on the ecology of hyrax (Dendrohyrax brucei and Procavia johnstoni) in the Serengeti National Park. E. Afr. Wildl. J.: 3, 49-60. Wilson D.E., Reeder D.M. (Eds) (1993). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.
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