In polygynandrous mating systems, the factors that mediate copulation success and the use of alternative mating tactics, such as mate guarding, are still poorly understood. In the rock hyrax, both sexes mate annually with multiple partners during a single month. In order to examine the factors that drive copulation success, we used mating- related observations that were collected over a decade. In our analysis, we used the traits of individual hyraxes as well as the traits of members of their sexual niche, which we defined as their local competitors and potential mates. We found that copulation success is determined not only by individual quality but also by the social and sexual niches that the individual occupies.