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. They do not ruminate. They have a high capacity for concentrating urea and electrolytes and excrete large amounts of CaCO3.
Hyraxes have a poor ability to regulate body temperature and a low metabolic rate.
Body temperatures are controlled by gregarious huddling, periods of inactivity and activity, and basking in the sun. Their physiology allows them to live in areas with poor food quality and quantity, but they depend on shelter that provides constant conditions. Social organization varies with relation to living space. Rock and bush hyraxes live in cohesive and stable family groups consisting of 3-7 related adult females, one adult male. The family disperses young of both sexes into neighboring areas.