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Rock Hyrax


Rock Hyrax
Photo Information
Copyright: Anton Prinsloo (Anton) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 46 W: 11 N: 154] (595)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-29
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D70S, AF-S Nikkor VR 200-400mm F/4 G
Exposure: f/11, 1/125 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Fauna of ETHIOPIAN (Africa) Region [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-08-30 14:11
Viewed: 8939
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this picture of the Rock Hyrax (Rock Dassie) at the holiday town of Hermanus in the Western Cape, South Africa. Hermanus is built along the shores of Walker Bay near the Southern most tip of Africa. Walker Bay is home of the Southern Right Whale. While we were watching whales, these stockily built, tailles animals were watching us.

The dassie is the African elephant’s closest living relative, in spite of the size difference. This close evolutionary relationship is deduced from similarities in the structure of the feet and teeth. It has four toes on the front feet and three toes on the hind-feet. The toes all have nails, except the inner toe of the hind-foot, which has a curved grooming claw. The soles of the feet are naked, the skin thick and padded with glandular tissue which keeps the surface permanently moist to increase traction. This enables it to negotiate steep and smooth rock faces or to climb trees with agility.

They feed on vegetation matter. It is a mixed feeder, but prefers grass when available during rainy seasons. However, during dry periods, it will consume any plant material available. Plants considered highly toxic and aromatic, mosses and liver-worts can be utilized by dassies during periods of drought stress.

Young are born during early summer after a gestation period of seven months. Some females can conceive before they are a year old. Litters normally vary from two to three young. One dominant male monopolises up to 17 females in a harem group. Solitary mature males live on the periphery of such harems.

Some vital statistics from Krugerpark

Latin Name: Procavia Capensis
Weight (Female): 2,5 - 4,2 kg
Weight (Male): 3,2 - 4,7 kg
Length (Female): 55 cm
Length (Male): 55 cm
Gestation Period: 8 months
No of Young: 1 - 6
Sexual Maturity: 17 months
Birth Weight: 165 - 230 g
Order: Hyracoidea
Family: Procaviidae
Breeding: 1 - 6 young are born in September/October and March - April after a gestation period of ± 7 months.
SunToucher, vaguedelamer, hester, RAP, Argus, Hil, metcher, soccer, vanderschelden, saguzar, nakkie has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

HI Anton,
that's phantastic and sooo cute.
They are sitting together like siamese-twins.
I love the one with the eye-contact - what a face ;-) Thanks, you made me smile
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hi Anton,
I really like the expression on the face of the one facing you. It is rather funny. The photo is beautiful, with great colors and amazing details. Excellent use of the light, especially the little reflection in both eyes. I think you had a few dirt spots on your lens in both upper corners.
TFS,
Niek

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2006-08-30 14:40]

Nice and sharp triangular composition of these guys. Clever to get a frontal and side view of them in one.
TFS, Ulla

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1538 W: 5 N: 2240] (12636)
  • [2006-08-30 15:27]

Bravo pour cette prise amusante. L'éclairage est bon et les détails aussi.

Merci Anton!

joseph

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2006-08-30 15:32]

Wonderful shot. I love the composition and the details. They look so fat and cuddly.

Lovely

Karan

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2006-08-30 16:24]

Hello Anton,
Excellent composition, clarity and light.
Lovely capture of these hyraxes.
TFS, Regards,
Ivan

Hi Anton,

Nice picture. Looks like a technical sheet with a front and side view ;o)
Well seen and well done;
TFS.

Serge

  • Great 
  • juanjo Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 167 W: 8 N: 27] (1142)
  • [2006-08-30 17:05]

Hello Anton
nice shot , the composition with two animals is good , sharpness is perfect and the background helps a lot to the picture+ colours are very natural+ the expresion of the face of the first animal is amazing ( looks like angry)

congratulations

jjo

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 696 W: 13 N: 1407] (5035)
  • [2006-08-30 17:29]

Hi Anton,

Superb shot, I really like the pose you have captured and the detail is lovely and sharp, great colours and lighting too.

TFS Hilary :~)

very nice, when I visited Harmanus, I had only one and not two. thanks, Ori

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2006-08-31 0:22]

Great presentation of these two hyraxes perpendicularly positioned, Anton. I enjoy their expressions and POV. Sharp details and good light showing these unusual rodents. TFs. : )

Very interesting shot. They are sitting exactly under 90 degrees angle. Very good composition, exposure and DOF.

Anton,

Excellent Lighting, BG, Sharpness and detail shown. I like your note and subject too. TFS,
Sheriff

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-08-31 6:45]

Perfect portrait Anton...

Composition: *****
Sharpness: *****
Color: *****
Lighting *****
Background *****
DOF: *****
POV: *****
Note: ****

Very good presentation.
TFS and greetings... Ricardo

Hi Anton,
Nice to see you back! This is an amazing picture! I like this great eye contact, he seems a bit disturbed by the camera and has a very funny expression. This composition is very good with sharp details, great exposure and lightning. Very well done, TFS,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1659 W: 95 N: 2273] (8415)
  • [2006-08-31 8:18]

Hi Anton,
Great capture with great sharpness, details, color, composition and pose.
TFS, José M.

Hello Anton,
Lovely creatures and well captured!
The way they pose is amazing, it is like they cover one direction each...
Good textures in the fur coats, and the colours are natural!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Great composition.
Great POV and DOF.
Good sharpness.

Anton,
Congrats. very well done..
Good compo with the 2 animals looking in a 90 degree different direction.
Annick

I love the right angled poses of these two cuties. It's a great capture and a sharp image.

Evelynn : )

Hello Anton,
A very nice pic, very cute animals. They looks very similar in pose and place thtat one image that I see in an old book.
Details, colours and composition, are all great.
Well done!!
Hernán

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