Kvabebihyrax kachethicus Gabunia & Vekua, 1966
Mammalia
Eutheria
Afrotheria
Hyracoidea
Pliohyracidae
Pliohyracinae
Late Pliocene
Georgia
Length: 1.6 m
Hyraxes are today only represented by four small herbivorous animals that lived in Africa and the Middle-East. Despite their superficially rodent-like aspect, hyraxes are actually more closely related to elephants and manatees. Hyraxes were well more numerous and diverse in the past. Some like Kvabebihyrax from the Late Pliocene of Georgia reached respectable sizes. Kvabebihyrax had eyes high up on the skull which is indicative of a probable amphibious lifestyle similar to the modern capybaras.
January 25, 2015
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