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:
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Veterans Day
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Winter in the Finnish wilds
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Bridges to the past
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Manatees rebound
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In honor of those we ve lost
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When science looks like magic
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Cape Town at dusk
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National Park Service anniversary
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Dog days of summer
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It s harvest time on World Food Day
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The tale of squirrels like Nutkin
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Skyscraper Day
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Indigenous living
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International Nurses Day
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National Love a Tree Day
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Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!
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Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles, Bavaria, Germany
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Mapping courage in the Seventh Ward
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Canadian Thanksgiving
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Bathing in the light of Pride
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Remembering the Velvet Revolution
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Bidding summer adieu
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Red fox in the Netherlands
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Manatee Appreciation Day
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Trevi in bloom
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It’s Draw a Bird Day
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Is there a bug-egg emoji for this?
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The story of the poinsettia
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It s International Jazz Day
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75 years of the United Nations