Tree Dassie - Dendrohyrax arboreus:Tree Dassies are excellent climbers: they are nocturnal and solitary; only one adult or a female with her young occupy each shelter. In the day they shelter in the hollows of trees, among thick foliage or in rock crevices, emerging at night to forage for plant material and insects. They are very noisy at night: when one of them gives a cry, all others in the area follow suit, letting out barks, growls, squeaks and shrieks, accompanied by the grinding of teeth, that rise in a piercing noise: this may continue for hours and can carry for up to three kilometres. When frightened they emit a whistling noise. Tree dassies are preyed on by large birds of prey such as owls and eagles, pythons, and by members of the cat family. They mark out their territory by rubbing their dorsal gland against trees, and, like other dassies, they use latrines, which are normally situated in the low fork of a tree. Tree dassies call out when wanting to announce their presence upon entering or leaving a tree hole. They are specially equipped to groom their coats as the inside of each hindleg has a specialised claw for this purpose. A litter consists of one to three young. SIZE: Length 50 cm, mass (m) 3 kg, (f) 2,4 kg. COLOUR: From grey to grey-brown. Head is slightly darker, throat and belly whitish to pure white. The hair covering the dorsal gland in the centre of the back is white or whitish. GESTATION PERIOD: 7 - 8 months MOST LIKE: The Rock Dassie, but with longer more woolly hair, and the hair over the dorsal gland is white, not black. Underparts are white or cream, not light brown. HABITAT: Evergreen coastal forests and tropical forests. South Africa - Eco Travel Guides - Wildlife Guides: Travel Guides: -:- Activities & Interests -:- Regions & Areas -:- Routes -:- Maps -:- Wildlife: -:- Vertebrates: -:- Amphibians -:- Birds -:- Fish -:- Mammals -:- Reptiles -:- |