Izibopho, eyaziwa nangokuthi ama-rock hyraxes (I-Procavia capensis), zincane, izilwane ezincelisayo ezinoboya ezitholakala kulo lonke elase-Afrika, kuhlanganisa naseTable Mountain eKapa. Ngezinye izikhathi zibizwa ngokuthi “onogwaja bamatshe” noma “amambila” ngenxa yokubukeka nokuziphatha kwazo.
Ama-Dassies ajwayele ukuhlala endaweni enamatshe, besebenzisa izinzipho zabo ezicijile ukukhuphuka nokugwaza ezindaweni ezimaholoholo. Ziyizilwane zomphakathi ezihlala ngamaqembu, okungaba ngosayizi ukusuka kubantu abambalwa kuye kwezingamashumi noma ngaphezulu. Ngokuyinhloko ziyi-herbivorous, ukudla okuhlukahlukene kwezitshalo, kuhlanganise notshani, amahlamvu, kanye namaxolo.
Naphezu kobukhulu bawo buncane, ama-dassies aziwa nge-physiology yawo engavamile. Banohlelo oluyinkimbinkimbi lokugaya olubavumela ukuba bakhiphe imisoco entweni yezitshalo eqinile, futhi bayakwazi ukulawula izinga lokushisa lomzimba wabo lapho kushisa kakhulu ngokukhipha uhlobo oluthile lomchamo olusiza ukupholisa.
Ama-Dassies ayingxenye ebalulekile ye-ecosystem e-Table Mountain nakwezinye izindawo ezinamatshe, esebenza njengomthombo wokudla wezilwane ezidla ezinye ezifana nezinkozi, ama-caracals, nezinyoka. Zibuye zibhekwe njengezinhlobo zamatshe asemqoka, ukudlala indima ekugcineni ibhalansi ye-ecosystem yendawo ngokuphakela kwayo kanye nokuziphatha.
Sekukonke, ama-dassies yizilwane ezihehayo ezijwayele ukuphila ezindaweni ezinamadwala, futhi ziyingxenye ebalulekile yamagugu emvelo aseNtshonalanga Kapa (I-WC) isifunda saseNingizimu Afrika.