The order Hyracoidea has long been a source of speculation and confusion to naturalists and zoologists alike. This is especially evident in the speculations of earlier authors regarding the morphological and phylogenetic affinities of the Hyracoidea to the other mammalian orders. The present paper is an attempt to revise this order, at least where Southern Africa is concerned. However, the revision does include a number of references to certain extralimital specimens in order to compare them with Southern African forms in geographical proximity to them. Southern Africa is taken here as the part of Africa south of the Cunene and the Zambesi Rivers. Unfortunately certain parts of Southern Africa have not been surveyed as thoroughly as others, and these areas may yet prove to contain specimens quite distinct from those discussed here. This is especially true of the north-eastern parts of Southern Africa: the eastern part of Rhodesia, the whole of Mozambique south of the Zambesi River and also Bechuanaland, Swaziland and Basutoland. No new forms are described. Recognition of species and subspecies is based on morphological grounds, which in one case include a constant difference in colour. Keywords: Colour, Dassie, Hyracoidea, Hyrax, Southern African mammals.