Zoo’s newest pups share DNA with elephants

Rock Hyrax pups Spud, Russ, and Jackie – named after the vegetable – were born to parents Maris and Albert at Chester Zoo earlier this year.

Now weighing around 350 grams each, the animals are part of the same evolutionary group as elephants, as well as sirenians, the family of aquatic mammals that includes dugongs and manatees.

The trio has passed its first vet check with a clean bill of health, and still has a long way to go to reach full size – with adults reaching up to four kilograms in weight.

Hyraxes are found across sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, where they live among rocky landscapes and are most active in daylight.

Megan Carpenter, keeper at Chester Zoo, said: "People are always surprised when we tell them that hyraxes are closely related to elephants.

"They look completely different, but there are some clues to their unusual family history. Their long front teeth, for example, are a little bit like miniature elephant tusks, and their feet have some resemblance to elephant feet, with flattened hoof-like nails.

"It's incredible to look at one of these tiny pups and know that somewhere in its family tree is an elephant.

"Their fur coloring and rounded shape helps them blend in with rocks.

"Hyraxes are one of those species that you have to look for, but once you've seen them, they are fascinating to watch.

"The pups are little chaos potatoes. They are much more energetic than their parents and sometimes get the zoomies, darting about and testing their climbing and parkour skills.

"In contrast, the adults often wedge themselves into corners and grip on to steep rock faces for hours at a time.

"They're incredibly well adapted to living among rocks and are much better climbers than you might expect."

Lyndon Howson, assistant team manager at the zoo, said: "It's incredible to think these little animals are so closely related to elephants and manatees.

"They're a brilliant example of how misleading appearances can be when it comes to evolution.

"That's what makes species like hyraxes so interesting – they challenge what we think we know about the natural world and show just how surprising animal evolution can be."