Main Entry:

hy·rax

Pronunciation:

\ˈhī-ˌraks\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Greek hyrak-, hyrax shrew

Date:

1832

: any of a family (Procaviidae) of small ungulate mammals of Africa and the Middle East characterized by thickset body with short legs and ears and rudimentary tail, feet with soft pads and broad nails, and teeth of which the molars resemble those of the rhinoceros and the incisors those of rodents —called also coney dassie

[hyrax illustration]