hyraceum
Sign in to saveHyraceum () is the petrified and rock-like excrement composed of both urine and feces of the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) and closely related species.
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- Hyraceum in perfumery
- Hyraceum in traditional South African medicine
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Hyraceum () is the petrified and rock-like excrement composed of both urine and feces of the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) and closely related species.
The rock hyrax defecates in the same location over generations, which may be sheltered in caves. These locations form middens that are composed of hyraceum and hyrax pellets, which can be petrified and preserved for over 50,000 years. These middens form a record of past climate and vegetation.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “hyraceum” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.