A hyrax (from Greek 'shrewmouse'; Afrikaans: klipdassie, from Dutch: klipdas 'rockbadger') is any of four species of fairly small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. They live in Africa and the Middle East. Hyraxes are well-furred rotund creatures with a mere stump for a tail. They are about the size of a Corgi; most measure between 30-70 cm long and weigh between 2-5kg. From a distance, a hyrax could be mistaken for a very well-fed rabbit or guinea pig. Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrax