Rock hyraxes are found in dry climates in Sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East countries such as Syria, Jordan, Israel and Jordan. These mammals dwell in rocky terrain throughout Africa's savannah and the Middle East's scrub grasslands. Rock hyraxes have sweat glands on their feet, which enable their feet to stick to their rocky environments. The range of rabbits covers Europe, Asia and the Americas. Cottontail, pygmy, volcano, swamp and brush rabbits are native to North America, while Asia is home to striped and amami rabbits. The European rabbit is native to France, Spain and Portugal, but has been introduced throughout the rest of Europe, the Americas and Australia.
Rock hyraxes and rabbits have polygamous social systems, where an alpha male surrounds himself with a harem of females. Rabbit gather in groups known as warrens and are able to spread out further than hyraxes, which are confined to small rocky areas in kopjes, or small hills. Swamp rabbit females chase male rabbits, indicating they've chosen a mate. Rock hyraxes generally have longer gestation periods -- over seven months -- than rabbits, which varies depending on the species; pygmy rabbits have a gestation period of approximately 39 days. Rabbits are primarily nocturnal, or active at night. Rock hyraxes are active during the day.
Unlike most mammals, rock hyraxes are not able to control their body temperature and rely on shade to cool down. This mammal's iris protrudes over its eye pupil, which creates a natural sun visor for its eyes. The iris protrusion decreases the amount of sunlight that disrupts the rock hyrax's vision. Two of the rock hyrax's incisor teeth grow out and become tiny tusks. Rabbits have long rear legs -- longer than their front legs -- which help them jump and run at quick paces. Small hairs on the rabbit's feet enables this animal to have a strong grip when running. Rabbits have longer, more slender ears than rock hyraxes.
Rock hyraxes are a singular species, while eight genera of rabbits exist throughout the world. Also, rock hyraxes are the only member of the Procavia genus. Although it is medium-sized, the rock hyrax is the closest living relative to elephants. Rock hyraxes and elephants are ungulates and belong to the Paenungulata clade of animals. All rabbit genera belong to the Leporidae family and Lagomorpha order. Some common species are New England and eastern cottontails, striped, swamp, European and pygmy rabbits. Eastern cottontails are the most widespread species in the United States.