Dassie Skull Replica measures 3.2 inches. Dassie Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane resin cast. Made in USA. 2-part skull (separate cranium & jaw). Known as Rock Hyrax.
The Dassie or Rock hyrax is a medium-sized terrestrial mammal native to Africa and the Middle East.
It is one of the five living species of the order Hyracoidea, and the only one in the genus Procavia. Rock hyraxes weigh 8.8–11.0 lb. and have short ears.
The fur of the Dassie is dense and rough, with a thick undercoat and long guard hairs scattered throughout. Long, black vibrissae, used as haptic receptors, are found on the back and around the mouth.
In the cape region of Africa, pelage color corresponds with environmental moisture; animals living in wetter areas have darker coats, and those living in more arid regions have paler coats.
A patch on the dorsum is surrounded by longer hairs in a contrasting color that may be black, yellow, or orange.
Underneath this patch is a bare spot containing a dorsal gland specific to hyraxes that secretes pheromones, which are used to mark rocks and help young imprint on their mother. Pheromone production is most pronounced during mating season.
The Dassie are found at elevations up to 13,800 ft. above sea level in habitats with rock crevices, allowing them to escape from predators.
They are the only extant terrestrial afrotherians in the Middle East. The Dassie typically live in groups of 10–80 animals, and forage as a group.
They have been reported to use sentries to warn of the approach of predators.
Having incomplete thermoregulation, they are most active in the morning and evening, although their activity pattern varies substantially with season and climate.
The Dassie females become increasingly aggressive as parturition approaches and temporarily form isolated nursing groups with other pregnant females. Birth takes place in the dark and females make hoarse squeaking noises in time with their contractions.
Litter size ranges from 1 to 6. Newborns are large and well-developed at birth. They have both eyes fully opened, a complete coat of hair, and weigh 170 to 240 grams.
Young can jump by two days old, and by the third or fourth day, they begin to eat food. Newborns are capable of eating solid food by two weeks of age.
Weaning is usually complete by three months after birth. Reproductive maturity is achieved at 16 months of age, but young do not reach adult size and weight until three years of age.
