Rock Hyrax
Also known as rock rabbits and dassies, the surprising thing about rock hyraxes is that they are the closest living land relatives of African elephants!
Though this small furry mammal looks nothing like its much larger cousin, the rock hyrax’s toes, teeth and skull all share features with the African elephant. Amazingly, rock hyrax have two teeth that give it the appearance of a rodent but are actually two tiny tusks.
The rocks in front of my tent at Lodo Springs in the Loisaba Conservancy were home to a family group of rock hyrax. Whilst I had travelled to Loisaba to photograph the African mega fauna that roams the conservancy, I got just as much pleasure watching and photographing the rock hyrax amongst these rocks as I did from photographing their much larger cousins.
Image made with the Nikon Z9 and Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S Lens at 400mm. 1/500 second, f8 at ISO 900. Handheld.
