THE ROCK OR KLIP DASSIE 



Also known as the Rock Rabbit and Coney 



(^Procavia capensis) 

 Imbila of Zulus, Swazis and Amaxosa ; Ipila of Basuto. 



The naturalists of the past classified the Dassie as 

 a rodent, viz. in the same class as hares, rabbits, 

 beavers, rats, etc., owing to its rodent-like incisor 

 teeth, general shape and habits, which are similar 

 to those of many of the rodent tribe of animals. 



However, careful examination of the molar teeth, 

 feet and internal anatomy made it clear that they 

 were really relations of the Elephant, Rhinoceros 

 and other animals of that class, so they were placed 

 in the order known as Ungulates or Hoofed Animals. 

 It will therefore be seen that a Dassie is in no way 

 related to rabbits, hares and other rodent animals. 



Although belonging to the hoofed class of 

 mammals, they have no close relations among them. 

 The structure of their feet would lead us to infer 

 they were more closely related to the Elephant and 

 the Rhinoceros than to any of the other members 

 of the hoofed tribe of animals. 



The Klip Dassie inhabits the krantzes and stony 

 hills of South Africa, and is common in such local- 



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