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.
Females become receptive once a year and births seem to be related to coincide with rainfall.
Between 1 and 4 young are birthed by each female. Weaning occurs at 1-5 months and both sexes reach sexual maturity at 16 months. Males disperse at around 30 months of age and females join the adult female group at sexual maturity. Territorial males are show the most dominance and are very aggressive during mating times and prefer females over 28 months of age. A territorial male monopolizes his female group year round and defends his territory.