Identify the Mystery Animal

My friend took his bonus and is spending these next 9 months travelling the world. About once every three weeks, he sends pictures to us poor bastards still in the office. This last bunch he sent was from Africa. Along with shark diving pics, she included this: (can't be bothered to write captions while globetrotting)

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...102Act2jds1bsY

I'm really curious to know what kind of animal these are.


I've ruled out:
-Capybara (don't have the tail)
- nutria (There are a bunch of these that live in the canal we dock our boat, and they don't have the same hind legs)
- Great Cane Rat (also no tail)
- African Clawless Otter (just looks really different)

I, for some reason am really curious about this... probably because I love otters and nutria. So... any ideas?

Richard Gere's fantasy tunnelers?

Hyrax, what do I win?

I guess we both could be right!

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Originally Posted by Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo

Hyrax, what do I win?

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Nice! Ever seen one of them in person?

No wonder I couldn't find it, I was searching rodents, which it is not:

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The hyrax is so unlike other animals that it is placed in a separate order (Hyracoidea) by itself. It is said to be the elephant's nearest living relative. This is true to a certain extent, but misleading since the relationship stems from a remote ancestor common to hyraxes, sea cows (dugongs and manatees) and elephants.

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Originally Posted by rideit

Richard Gere's fantasy tunnelers?

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you definitely have to work your way up to the Hyrax!

Don't nutria also have tails?

Ever see the Dave Attell Insomniac in New Orleans?

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Originally Posted by shmerham

Ever see the Dave Attell Insomniac in New Orleans?

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No, but I have seen this Seinfeld:

Ipswitch: Ms. Benes the hat you charged to the company was Sable, this is Neutria.

Elaine: Well, that's a kind of sable.

Ipswitch: No, its a kind of rat.

Elaine: That's a rat hat?

Ipswitch: And a poorly made one, even by rat hat standards. I have no choice but to recommend your prompt termination to the board of directors. Nothing short of the approval of Peterman himself will save you this time.

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Originally Posted by Pope Benedict XVI

you definitely have to work your way up to the Hyrax!

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Well done, Pope.

Did you know the hyrax is most closely related to the elephant? Strange but true, and you heard it on TGR.

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Originally Posted by Pope Benedict XVI

you definitely have to work your way up to the Hyrax!

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So, if they are in some way related to elephants, does that mean they never forget a thing?


hmmm...calling the tabloids now!!!

I was going to say Coati at first... but wrong continent and too chubby. Besides, you don't stand so close to coati, the signs say so.
http://cj001f.smugmug.com/photos/77008902-M.jpg

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Originally Posted by cj001f

you don't stand so close to coati

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That's my favorite song by The Police.

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Originally Posted by rideit

So, if they are in some way related to elephants, does that mean they never forget a thing?


hmmm...calling the tabloids now!!!

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I meant what I said, and I said what I meant; a hyrax is faithful ... like ... 55%.

Or thereabouts.

Yep, definitely a Hyrax. They were all over the place when I was in Kenya and Tansania.

Huh - a Guinea Pig that's part elephant. What will they think of next? Maybe some magical Creature that has fur, lays eggs, is a mammal, swims, has four legs, and a duck bill?



Nah.

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Originally Posted by Tippster

Huh - a Guinea Pig that's part elephant. What will they think of next? Maybe some magical Creature that has fur, lays eggs, is a mammal, swims, has four legs, and a duck bill?



Nah.

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I'm hoping for rainbow colored unicorns for baker boy.

I'd kick my Mom in the head for one of those.

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Originally Posted by Tippster

Huh - a Guinea Pig that's part elephant. What will they think of next? Maybe some magical Creature that has fur, lays eggs, is a mammal, swims, has four legs, and a duck bill?



Nah.

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They also have suction cup like feet to stick to the rocks, 5.13s ain't nothin' for them.

Don't forget that the duck bill senses electrical fields to locate prey.....proof of intelligent design? It's how I would have built such a creature.

an 'intelligently designed' creature would have been a little more adaptable.
Failed premise.

Humans are greater proof of 'stupidly designed'.


Argue THAT, bitch!!!

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Originally Posted by rideit

an 'intelligently designed' creature would have been a little more adaptable.

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Damn straight - God got it right with the animal that sleeps close to 19 hours a day with the remaining 5 spent eating narcotics and mating. The only wild one I've ever seen looked like an alchy on day 3 of a bender when someone hid the booze

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...irns_Koala.jpg

Umm...That is pretty much my own bio.



Jealous?




Time for a nap.....ZZZZZZ....

they're funny.