In honor of the UN’s International Day of Families, we present the hyrax–a species with a rather surprising family tree. These furry mammals are often mistaken for rodents, but they’re more closely related to the elephant and manatee. Hyraxes even sport tusk-like incisors like their elephant cousins. To stay warm, they spend much of their time sunbathing, an activity which makes them vulnerable to predators. But even hyrax families look out for one another—and a male hyrax will stand guard to watch for potential threats.
Celebrating the UN’s International Day of Families
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Cetacean Saturday
-
On a Healing Field for Veterans Day
-
The power of the forest
-
Swimming into the season
-
National Trails Day
-
Wanderin Wawayanda
-
Where is this gorgeous peak?
-
Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
-
A throng of ice and spires
-
In the Most Serene Republic
-
Crested caracaras
-
National Park Week: Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii
-
Ancient groves in Australia
-
Hemakuta Hill, Hampi, India
-
Poppies in bloom
-
Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
-
A wild, craggy corner of the United States
-
Celebrating the Day of the Dead
-
Laguna de Torrevieja, Spain
-
Yosemite National Park turns 132
-
Chapel of St. Michel on Lake Serre-Ponçon, Hautes-Alpes, France
-
Happy Thanksgiving!
-
New Year s Eve
-
Things are looking up
-
Storks ready for takeoff
-
Polar bear capital of the world
-
World Photography Day
-
Once upon a midafternoon dreary…
-
A storied trail marks a century
-
Museum Night in Berlin