Goal: To promote research to increase scientific knowledge that will benefit conservation of ecosystems and hyraxes.
Foster describes the hyrax as "one of the world's most bizarre creatures and one which, despite its abundance and widespread distribution in Africa and the Middle East, remains something of a mystery."
Not much is known about this animal - to the extent that scientist have failed to classify them with any other animal. The hyrax is so unique they were given their own order, Hydracoidea. If we are more educated about them and how they live, if possible extinction were in the future, we would be prepared to initiate conservation procedures, which are only possible with great familiarity with species and their ecosystem.
Taxonomically unique
Originally classified as a rodent because of superficial appearence
T. Gill (1870) was the first to assume the relationship with sea cows, but there is presently no agreement as to the origin of the hyrax
"..the fossil record provides no information concerning the phylogeny of the hyraxes." (6)
Further research can determine why there are so few species