Space partitioning between two small mammals in a rocky desert

An analysis was made in Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa of the factors that allow coexistence of two small herbivorous mammals: the rock hyrax Procavia capensis and the dassie rat Petromus typicus. The rocky habitat provides adequate food and living shelters of varying sizes. There appears to be competition for shelters: Petromus occupies only those shelters that are too small for Procavia with the result that the population of Petromus is small and restricted to certain favourable areas whereas Procavia is abundant and widespread.