Amaqhina, ekwabizwa ngokuba yi-rock hyraxes (Iprocavia capensis), zincinci, izilwanyana ezanyisayo ezinoboya ezifumaneka kwiindawo ezininzi zaseAfrika, kuquka neNtaba yeTafile eKapa. Ngamanye amaxesha zibizwa ngokuba “imivundla yamatye” okanye “iimbila” ngenxa yenkangeleko nokuziphatha kwabo.
IiDassies ziqhelene kakuhle nokuhlala kwindawo enamatye, besebenzisa iinzipho zabo ezibukhali ukunyuka kunye nokukrazula kwiindawo ezirhabaxa. Zizilwanyana ezihlala ngokwamaqela, enokwahlukana ngobungakanani ukusuka kubantu abambalwa ukuya kwishumi elinambini nangaphezulu. Zizitya nezityalo, ukutya kwizinto ezahlukeneyo zezityalo, kuquka ingca, amagqabi, kunye namaxolo.
Nangona ubukhulu babo buncinci, iidassies zaziwa ngephysiology yazo engaqhelekanga. Banenkqubo enzima yokugaya evumela ukuba bakhuphe izondlo kwizinto ezinzima zezityalo, kwaye bayakwazi ukulawula ubushushu bomzimba wabo kubushushu obugqithisileyo ngokukhupha uhlobo oluthile lomchamo olunceda ukupholisa..
IiDassies ziyinxalenye ebalulekileyo ye-ikhosistim kwiNtaba yeTafile kunye nezinye iindawo ezinamatye, esebenza njengomthombo wokutya wamarhamncwa afana neenkozi, iicaracals, kunye neenyoka. Zikwajongwa njengeentlobo zelitye eliphambili, ukudlala indima ekugcineni ulungelelwaniso lwe-ecosystem yengingqi ngokutyisa nokuziphatha kwazo.
Kuko konke, iidassie zizilwanyana ezinomdla eziziqhelanise kakuhle nobomi kwiindawo zokuhlala ezinamatye, kwaye ziyinxalenye ebalulekileyo yelifa lemveli leNtshona Koloni (i-WC) kummandla waseMzantsi Afrika.