VMD 512: Zoo/Wild Animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

HYRACOIDEA

• This order contains small rabbit like mammals but have short ears and the tail is reduced.
• The taxonomists have classified the hyraxes, proboscideans (elephants) and sirenians (sea cows) as subungulates.
• The hyraxes were earlier found to be close to the elephants due to following reasons:
  • Large bulge of the anterior maxillary skull
  • Character and position of teeth
  • Close junction of the four toes
  • Posterior position of the malar bones