Hi, this week I am going to highlight the Hyena I always thought they were very interesting and fun to learn about. I also think that they get over looked and that they are very cute as pups.
Here are some fun facts that I learned:
Fact #1 There are four species of Hyena: spotted, brown, striped, and the aardwolf. All hyenas are usually nocturnal. The spotted hyena is the most well known.
Fact #2 Spotted hyenas live in Africa in savannas, grasslands, woodlands, forest edges, subdeserts and mountains. They live in territorial clans of related individuals, sometimes up to 80 members. Spotted hyenas are hunters and scavengers. Besides flesh, they eat skin, bones, and even animal droppings. Spotted hyenas are 28 to 35 inches tall and weigh 90 to 190 pounds. The spotted females are heavier than the males. Spotted hyenas make a variety of sounds: wailing calls, howling screams, and the well-known "laughter," which is used to alert other clan members of a food source.
Striped hyenas live in Africa, Arabia, Asia Minor and India in savanna, thorn bush, and stony desert regions. They weigh from 55 to 121 pounds. Striped and brown hyenas are predominantly scavengers, though they do supplement their diets with small prey from insects to foxes.
The aardwolf, also, lives in Africa. It’s main food source is the harvester termite. They also eat insect larvae, and eggs of ground nesting birds. Aardwolf are smaller than other hyena relatives, weighing only 50 and 60 pounds and standing only 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder. Except when raising cubs, aardwolf are solitary animals.
Fact #3 In one feeding frenzy, a spotted hyena can eat up to one third of its body weight.
Fact #4 Hyenas are not related to dogs, although they do have some similar greeting ceremonies. Spotted hyenas are the largest of three hyena species. Brown and striped hyenas are the other two. Although hyenas appear similar to dogs, they are actually more closely related to cats.
Fact #5 Spotted hyena cubs are born with their eyes open!
Fact #6 Typically silent, a striped hyena usually travels unnoticed, noiselessly moving through the brush. Its loudest call is a rarely heard cackling howl. The hyena makes successive rapid, brief whinnies or cackles when it's excited. Threat displays with rival hyenas begin with a growl rising to a roar, followed by a low, snapping lunge. Spotted hyenas are quite vocal and make a wide variety of sounds, including the "laughing" that has long been associated with their name.
Fact #7 Spotted hyenas have good hearing and sharp eyesight at night. They are fast and can run for long distances without tiring. Packs work together effectively to isolate a herd animal, sometimes one that is ill or infirm, and pursue it to the death. The victors often squabble over the spoils, either among themselves or with other powerful animals like lions.
Fact #8 The common predators of hyenas are the leopard, lion, hunting dogs and crocodile.
Fact #9 Spotted hyenas form groups which are called 'clans', which can grow up to 80 members.
Fact #10 Carrion is a favorite food, and the stench attracts the hyena by night as it does the vulture by day. In some cases they dig up dead bodies and devour them. They also prey on living animals.
Class: Mammalia (Mammals)
Order: Carnivora
Order: Carnivora
Family: Hyaenidae
Genus: Hyaena
Species: hyaena
Body length: 3.2 to 3.9 feet (100 to 120 centimeters)
Tail length: 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35 centimeters)
Shoulder height: 2 to 3 feet (60 to 94 centimeters)
Weight: 49 to 121 pounds (22 to 55 kilograms)
Life span: 10 to 12 years in the wild, 20 to 25 years in zoos
Number of young at birth: 1 to 5 (usually 2 to 4)
Weight at birth: 25 ounces (700 grams)
Age of maturity: 2 to 3 years
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