Ancient Hyrax Habits Reveal Clues to Pleistocene life on South African Coast
A groundbreaking finding of fossilized tracks and unique “butt-drag” impressions left by rock hyraxes is offering unprecedented insight into the environment and animal behavior of the Pleistocene epoch, spanning from 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago. Researchers at the African Center for Coastal Palaeoscience are meticulously studying these traces, found along the Cape south coast of South Africa, to reconstruct a detailed picture of life during this period.
The study of these ancient traces – known as ichnology – has already yielded remarkable finds. among the most recent and remarkable finds are two fossilized traces definitively attributed to rock hyraxes, locally known as “dassies.” One is a potential track site, and the other is a distinctive butt-drag impression, complete with what appears to be a fossilized dropping within it.
the probable hyrax track site was initially identified by Mike fabricius, an experienced tracker, near Walker Bay. Dating indicates the tracks are approximately 76,000 years old. Further east, near Still Bay, researchers uncovered the butt-drag impression, estimated to be around 126,000 years old. This particular find is particularly significant,representing the first fossil of its kind ever described globally. Furthermore, these represent the only potential fossilized hyrax tracks identified to date.
“In the world of paleontology, anything this unusual is significant and we feel privileged to be able to interpret them,” a researcher stated.
The butt-drag impression, measuring 95 cm long and 13 cm wide, exhibits five parallel striations and slightly raised outer margins.A 2 cm-high, 10 cm by 9 cm raised feature within the impression suggests a possible coprolite – a fused mass of fossilized hyrax droppings. Researchers initially considered alternative explanations, such as a leopard or even an ancient human dragging prey, or an elephant dragging its trunk. However,these scenarios would likely have left accompanying tracks,and the raised feature remained unexplained.
The hyrax explanation, however, neatly accounts for both the drag mark and the potential coprolite, suggesting the drag mark may have obscured any preceding tracks.
Beyond tracks and butt-drags, rock hyraxes leave a unique legacy in the form of polished rock surfaces, similar to “buffalo rubbing stones” found on North American prairies. Due to their preference for rocky habitats, hyrax tracks are infrequently found, but their constant rubbing polishes the stone to a sheen.
More significantly, hyraxes deposit significant amounts of urine and dung. Their urine is highly concentrated with urea, electrolytes, and calcium carbonate, which cements over time, forming extensive whitish deposits on rock surfaces.Generations of communal urination in preferred locations create these lasting marks. The combination of urine and dung forms hyraceum, a rock-like, tarry substance that has been used in traditional medicine for ailments like epilepsy and gynecological issues.
“Thinking of hyraceum as a trace fossil,something which apparently has not been done before,can definitely help in the protection of this underappreciated resource,” one researcher noted. Hyraceum deposits, possibly tens of thousands of years old, are considered a threatened, non-renewable resource. These middens also serve as valuable natural archives, containing fossil pollen and other evidence of past climates, vegetation, and ecology.
Paleontologists have even coined a term for fossilized urine: urolite, distinguishing it from coprolite (fossilized poop).It appears hyraxes are the primary contributors to the world’s supply of urolite, prompting a playful sentiment among paleontology students: “coprolite happens,” but perhaps in southern Africa, “urolite happens” is more fitting.
Through the study of these seemingly mundane behaviors – butt-dragging, urination, and defecation – and their fossilized remnants, researchers are gaining a deeper understanding of the lives of rock hyraxes and the broader environment of the Pleistocene.This newfound thankfulness for these endearing creatures and their unique traces will undoubtedly reshape how we view them for years to come.
