Yellow spotted dassie

Introduction: The yellow-spotted rock dassie (Heterohyrax brucei) refers to the colour of the hair on the dorsal gland, which in the rock dassie is black but can vary in the species from yellow to ochre. They are slightly smaller than the rock dassie and the muzzle is slightly narrower. Two of the best features when distinguishing from the rock dassie are the white or off-white patches above the eyes and the lighter colour of the sides of the face.

Distribution: The yellow-spotted dassie occupies similar habitats to the rock dassie.  The two species often live on the same rocks, using identical crevices and can be seen basking in the sun next to each other. Both species of dassie frequent the mountains and koppies in and around the Namibian capital, Windhoek. They do not interbreed. The yellow-spotted dassie is not often found in isolated rocky koppies.

Diet: Predominantly a browser but in the warm, wetter months, their diet includes grass as well.

Colouring: Dark brown with a reddish ting, flecked on the upper parts with off-white.

Breeding: The average number in a litter is two and the young are born fully-furred.

Size: Yellow-spotted dassies have a total length of 50cm and a mass of around 3kg.