Males and females are about the same size. While the animal is running, the feet sweat and more traction for climbing results. Species in warm climates have short hair, while alpine species have long hair. Long tactile hairs are integrated with all of the fir coat for orientation dark holes. They have a dorsal gland surrounded by light colored hair that stiffen when the animal gets excited.
Contemporary hyraxes retain primitive features.
Most notably is an inefficient feeding mechanism that involves cropping with the molars instead of the incisors like techniques used by modern hoofed mammals. A poor regulation of body temperature and short feet are also primitive features. Today hyraxes are confined to Africa and the Middle East. Hyraxes feed on a wide variety of plants, grasses, fruits and berries. Their gut is complex, with three separate areas of microbial digestion.