Don't jump!

[davidedric]

Posted for fun. Rock Hyrax (or Dassie) on a kopje.

[Bobobird]

Haha. Perhaps a vertical may have given a better impression of "jump"?

[Mike Buckley]

Did it jump?

[davidedric]

No, I think they have sucker pads on their feet .

Odd fact - the dassie's closest living relative is the elephant!

[Shadowman]

Nice shot.

[bnnrcn]

Nice and funny I would crop the rock from left to put the Dassie on 1/3 of the frame. IMO jumping feeling show better this way in a square format.

[Nicks Pics]

The little critter isn't afraid of hights is it? situating the critter higher up in the frame might make it look like its more-on-the-edge.

Odd fact - the dassie's closest living relative is the elephant!

There is so much false information published about animal ancestry that for most people it's hard to tell what is true and not unless you know what to listen for, but that an elephant and a rock hyrax are genetically related is probably not one of the facts out there are true. As a rule of thumb, there can be and has been variation at the species level, but generally it's not possible at the family level. E.g. a rabbit may genetically diversify into the New England Cottontail species, and Eastern Cottontail species, but a the Eastern Gray squirrel and any rabbit can't have any common genetic relations or ancestors.

[IzzieK]

Dedric...love the fun shot...reading from the responses, now I cannot ask if it jumped...

[Rita]

Dave, a nice fun shot of a cute creature.

[davidedric]

There is so much false information published about animal ancestry that for most people it's hard to tell what is true and not unless you know what to listen for, but that an elephant and a rock hyrax are genetically related is probably not one of the facts out there are true.

Nick, I think on this occasion I am correct (though properly I should have referred to the Procaviidae of which there are three members). If you won't take my word for it - how about the San Diego zoo?

http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/rock-hyrax

Dave

[davidedric]

Nice and funny I would crop the rock from left to put the Dassie on 1/3 of the frame. IMO jumping feeling show better this way in a square format.

Thanks, Binnur - you are right the thirds position is much better.

Dave

[Nicks Pics]

Nick, I think on this occasion I am correct (though properly I should have referred to the Procaviidae of which there are three members). If you won't take my word for it - how about the San Diego zoo?

Thanks Dave,

I hope you understand that I am not just saying that is too surprising to belive, I'm trying to explain that there are real reasons it isn't true and wouldn't work. As a matter of fact, I did come across that article and looked up several others before responding, which said about the same. No offense, though, I didn't think you thought that up yourself in the first place. I didn't think up my response myself either. I have learned a lot about that topic form websites such as this one: here is a\ very interesting article about the topic I was trying to explain.

http://creation.com/dogs-breeding-dogs

Pardon me for talking off topic, but it's a topic worth learning about for sure.

[davidedric]

Hi Nick,

So long as someone expresses themselves politely, as you do, I am very hard to offend so no worries on that score.

We clearly have rather different views about evolution and origins, which honestly there isn't much point in arguing about. The arguments that would convince you would not convince me, and vice versa.

Let's leave it there and enjoy our photography,

Best regards,

Dave

[Nicks Pics]

Your signature gave me a hint that it might be interested in "my views" if educated about them, but it's usually hard to tell. Your conclusion to the discussion is the ordinary.

[dabhand]

Posted for fun. Rock Hyrax (or Dassie) on a kopje.

It may have been for fun, but it gets my attention as a good example of someone secure in their own world looking out into the wild blue yonder and wondering .........

steve