A hybrid of the spotted and striped hyena. Hyenas - interesting facts

Hyena- a wild mammal belonging to the feline predatory species. How hyena lives in nature and where does it live? What does it eat and how does it hunt? Today we will answer these questions, and start with the characteristics.

Description of the hyena

in ancient Greek, hyena meant a boar and a pig, probably because of its unpleasant smell and hairy back. Though hyena and belongs to the feline, its size is impressive! This is a large animal, growing to a length of 190 cm, and weighing about 80 kg. The body of the predator is large, muscular, with a wide chest, but narrowed towards the sacrum. The body is covered with very shaggy and coarse hair, the undercoat is practically absent. Most of the wool falls on the mane and back. As you know, hyena most often they are painted with peculiar spots or stripes all over the body, but there is a color only on the paws, and the tail of the predator is short and barely noticeable. The color of the coat is gray-brown or yellow-gray.

The head of the animal is massive with a short muzzle, an elongated nose, and almond-shaped eyes. But the ears of individuals are different, in some they are long, pointed and triangular, while in others, the ears are small and rounded. By the way, thanks to its powerful jaws, hyena capable of crushing bones, even the thickest ones, because this animal has teeth unusual shape, and the structure of the skull is different from other predators. The forelimbs are much longer than the hind ones, besides, the hind limbs are curved and look much weaker, for this reason the back of the predator is sloping. Almost all species have 4 toes with strong nails on the paws (except for the earthen wolf).

Hyenas they communicate with each other with unusual sounds, reminiscent of screeching, growling or laughter, but only spotted hyenas are characterized by laughter. BUT hyena lifespan on average 12-15 years, but in a zoo, a wild animal can double its life to 24 years.

Types of hyenas

Hyenas are divided into 3 types:

1. Brown and striped hyenas- the striped hyena is quite large, up to 1.5 meters long and weighing about 60 kg. The brown hyena is 1.25 m long and weighs about 40 kg (This hyena has the longest hair that grows from the back and hangs down to the paws.)

2. spotted hyenas can reach a length with a tail of 1.6 m, and some individuals are almost 1.9 meters, with a weight of 44 to 82 kg.

3. Aardwolf has a body length of only 55-110 cm, and a weight of 8-14 kg.

WHERE THE HYENA LIVES AND WHAT EATS

What does a hyena eat in nature

Scientists have proven that hyenas don't eat exclusively carrion, they are excellent hunters, and in 90% of cases, having chosen prey, they do not leave with empty paws. Of course, they are not averse to taking prey from lions, but lions do exactly the same. spotted hyenas flocks drive prey, accelerating at a speed of 65 km / h, but striped and brown hunt alone, and therefore feed on small animals. just as often spotted hyenas they take food from leopards, cheetahs, attacking one animal in a flock. They themselves hunt both small and large animals, such as zebras, giraffes, antelopes, turtles, birds, baby elephants, sheep, buffaloes, but in a hungry period they are able to eat carrion. All hyenas, except earthwolves, feed on and plant foods - watermelons, nuts, melons, pumpkin fruits. The earth wolf Prefers termites, insect larvae, dead beetles, bird eggs and chicks, small rodents, birds.

Where does the hyena live

Hyena habitat depends on the type. For example, earth wolf lives in East, Northeast and West Africa, except for Tanzania and Zambia. Predators settle in open sandy plains or in thickets of bushes, where they go hunting at dusk.

Brown hyenas live also in Africa, in the Zambezi along the coast of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean, in Tanzania, in Zimbabwe, in Namibia, Somalia, in Botswana. Settle in desert or semi-desert places, in savannahs, in coastal locations, in the woods, going hunting at dusk.

Striped hyenas meet in North Africa, in Turkey, in Pakistan, in Uzbekistan, in Armenia, in Azerbaijan, in India, in the south of the Sahara, in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula. At night they go hunting, and during the day they live in burrows, crevices and caves.

Spotted hyenas live in South and East Africa, in Kenya, Sudan, Namibia, Somalia, Tanzania, Botswana, settle in the savannas on the hills.

VIDEO: ABOUT HYENAS

IN THIS VIDEO YOU CAN SEE THE DOCUMENTARY FILM AND LEARN A LOT OF INTERESTING ABOUT THE HYENA'S LIFE IN NATURE

A mammal called the spotted hyena, the only representative of the genus Crocuta, belongs to the hyena family. This large predator very rarely feeds on carrion, leads a group lifestyle, and its howl is similar to a strange laugh.

The spotted hyena is the largest among its relatives: its body length is about 1.3 m, its height reaches 80 cm, the skull is up to 30 cm long. The weight of adult males is in the range of 40-50 kg, for females this value is 39-51 kg . The coat is short, painted in a grayish color, decorated with brown spots on the sides and in the upper part of the legs. The fur is coarse, bristly. The head is brown, the cheeks and back of the head have a reddish tint, the tail has a black tip and brown rings along the length, the paws are below white color. The color is generally quite variable, it can be either lighter or darker. The body is massive. Ears are rounded. Due to the longer front legs compared to the hind legs, the animal at first glance seems clumsy and slow, but in reality such anatomical features help the hyena move as quickly as possible over long distances. In females, high testosterone levels cause the formation of pseudo-male organs.

Until recently, spotted hyenas were considered typical scavengers, but in the course of research it turned out that in 90% of cases they kill their victims. Hyenas hunt at a speed of about 65 km / h and very successfully. They can catch almost all animals: from small to buffalo and young. Hyenas detect their victims with the help of sight and hearing, and can pursue at distances up to 5 km.

Having overtaken and dumped the victim, the spotted hyena immediately starts eating it. The strong pressure of its powerful jaws allows the animal to easily gnaw the bones of prey. The rough tongue helps scrape the meat off the bones. Due to the long digestive tract, the food received by hyenas is completely absorbed.

The spotted hyena, which hunts alone, can prey on an antelope 3 times its size, but more often these predators hunt in pairs. Packs of hyenas even attack buffaloes, young giraffes and baby elephants.

Spotted hyenas are common in southern and eastern Africa. Found in Abyssinia and eastern Sudan. In Abyssinia, it lives in the mountains at altitudes of about 4000 m. Throughout its range of residence, the spotted hyena competes with the striped hyena, and either displaces it, or, on the contrary, gives way to it.

Spotted hyenas are not sexually dimorphic. They not only do not differ in their size and appearance, but moreover, in females, due to high level testosterone can even develop pseudo-male organs.

Lifestyle spotted hyenas generally similar to their relatives, but they are more dangerous and evil predators. The howl of these animals resembles laughter.

Spotted hyenas live in groups often called clans. Everything in them is subject to a strict hierarchy. Females tend to crowd out males and prevent their attempts to occupy the highest positions in the group, but they do not always succeed. The power struggle among females begins with childhood. They arrange fights among themselves, which are very serious and often end deaths. Weaker females perish, and strong ones continue to assert their dominant position in the pack. But females never fight with newborns and young males. The position of young females is always lower than that of their mother. Males that have reached puberty always go to other clans.

On the social status spotted hyena indicates the position of its tail: if it is pulled up, then this indicates a high social position animal, if it is omitted, then the status is low.

The smell of a hyena is associated with the secretion of glands that serve as animals for communication.

Pregnancy in female spotted hyenas lasts 14 weeks. There are usually up to 7 babies in a litter, which are born in middle Africa at the beginning of the rainy season, and in the northern regions in the spring. Babies live in caves or burrows for the first time. At birth, they have teeth and are able to see. Mother protects her cubs until they grow up. Small hyenas are covered with short one-color fur, they have no spots. Each of the females feeds only her babies with milk, and the milk is so nutritious that the cubs can survive a week without food after receiving it.

Spotted hyenas are useful for nature and for people. They are the real orderlies of the savannas, they destroy the corpses of animals and prevent the spread of various diseases. To date, the population of this species has decreased compared to past indicators, but still there is no threat of its extinction yet.

• Interestingly, contrary to popular belief, it is the lion who tends to take prey from the hyena, and not vice versa. The clan of hyenas will still try to drive away one lion or lioness, but several of these animals or a large male lion will easily take away the desired food. In addition, lions kill hyenas and their offspring. And only the old "kings" of animals can be successfully attacked by hyenas.
• Spotted hyenas tend to take prey from other predators, often preying on their cubs, and on sick and old adults. Hyenas take burrows from foxes and use them during mating season for breeding offspring.
• When a group of spotted hyenas near prey meets with a clan of brown hyenas, a fight will certainly break out between relatives, in which large and strong spotted hyenas usually win. They fight with opponents with all their friendly team, but as soon as the animals take possession of the desired prey, each of the “winning” hyenas tries to eat as much meat as possible and does it very quickly, until the other members of the group do the same.

Hyenas. How many legends and superstitions are associated with these animals. In places where hyenas live, they are often put in a bad light in folklore. Once upon a time, representatives of the genus of hyenas were a very large population and were found not only in Asia and Africa, but also inhabited Europe and North America. Today, these animals occupy only a small part of their former habitat.

Hyena habitats

There are four species in the hyena family: striped hyena, spotted hyena, brown hyena and earthen wolf. Almost all living Africans.

The striped hyena is found in southwest Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. She also lives in northeast Africa, on the Arabian Peninsula, in Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, in India and in the south of Central Asia.

The spotted hyena is found only in Africa, in the territory from the southern outskirts of the Sahara to the Cape of Good Hope. In Abyssinia, the spotted hyena can be seen at an altitude of 4000 meters above sea level.

The brown hyena, a close relative of the striped hyena, lives on the west coast. South Africa. They lead a solitary life and often feed on dead fish, shellfish and crabs.

The earthwolf can be found on the plains of Africa south of Ethiopia - in savannahs, scrublands and semi-deserts.

In our article, we want to talk about the most unusual and mysterious predator, around which there are always many secrets. The spotted hyena is the most ferocious animal in Africa, it belongs to the hyena family and is a unique creature of its kind. Of the entire group of hyenas, it is the spotted variety that boasts the most powerful jaw among mammalian predators.

Mysterious Creatures

It's no secret that no other animal causes such hostility in people as the hyena. Appearance and demeanor - all this does not cause positive emotions. An interesting fact is that long time these animals were considered almost the most mysterious because of their little study. The banal ignorance of many facts from the lifestyle of hyenas has led people to believe in the most incredible rumors about these creatures, based on fear.

So, for example, the inhabitants of the African continent were frightened by the persistence with which hyenas sometimes tear apart graves. Therefore, they believed that animals are associated with the other world and evil spirits. But the Arabs also did not favor hyenas. When killing them, they tried to bury their heads as deep as possible so that the creatures could not return and take revenge.

The mystical horror of these animals led many people to believe that drugs prepared from the organs of hyenas have incredible power.

Description of the spotted hyena

Hyenas belong to the cat-like suborder. Once they were considered relatives of dogs, but recently scientists nevertheless came to the conclusion that this classification is not true. Therefore, at present, hyenas are attached to the cat family. And yet, outwardly, the spotted hyena is very reminiscent of a dog. The animal has a fairly large size, the length of the body with the tail reaches 190 centimeters. The largest individuals weigh up to 80 kilograms. The predator has a very muscular and powerful body, with a significantly expanded thoracic region. Hyenas have slightly curved hind limbs, which are shorter than the front ones, which is why their backs are sloping. The front paws have five toes, while the hind paws have only four. Under the fingers are convex pads, which are the main emphasis when running and walking.

Hyenas are characterized by a thick and massive head, as well as a short and wide neck. Powerful jaws ferocious predator give them the ability to crush the largest bones of the victim.

The body of the animal is covered with coarse shaggy brown or yellowish-gray hair. Hyenas have almost no undercoat. On the back along the ridge, the hairline is elongated, which is why it looks like a mane.

The color of the animal's fur is heterogeneous. The spotted hyena has slightly blurred spots all over its body and on its paws. The tail of the animal is shaggy and short.

animal voice

The spotted hyena, like other members of this family, makes many sounds. Their language is so diverse that they can perfectly communicate with relatives. Probably, every reader knows that these animals emit a cry that is characteristic only for them, which is more like an unpleasant laugh. It is because of him that people have long disliked hyenas. In fact, it is a mixture of roar, scream, howl and the likeness of a terrible laugh. As a result, we hear this sound later as an unpleasant laugh.

With their voice, animals control the order of the meal. The main female of the flock reports that she has already eaten, and representatives of the next hierarchy can start eating. It's no secret that spotted hyenas (photos are given in the article) are incredibly warlike and pugnacious creatures. But thanks to the sound commands of the main female, the whole family remains calm.

In total, hyenas make 11 sounds. They chat with each other with laughter. And during a fight for prey, they growl, “giggle” and howl. But squeals and groans are a sign of welcome.

A flock of animals quickly responds to the sound signals of only females, and does not respond at all to the cries of males or responds with a delay. Grunting sounds and low growl are a manifestation of predator aggression. But the hyena “laughs” in case of danger. Before attacking the victim, the animal growls loudly and menacingly. Hyenas are afraid of lions, and therefore they warn their brothers with a growl about the approach of the enemy. In general, in the arsenal of predators there are sounds for all occasions.

pack hierarchy

A herd of spotted hyenas (photos are given in the article) is characterized by a clear hierarchy. Their clans live in a matriarchy. Females dominate males and occupy a higher position in society. In addition, the pack also has additional divisions into levels. Adults are the main ones. They have the privilege of being the first to eat and rest at the very entrance to the lair. They are faced with the task of raising large offspring.

Females at a lower level of the hierarchy do not have such greater privileges. As for the males, they occupy the lowest place in the pack, but there is also a division between them. All males express incredible obedience to the opposite sex. For breeding, males often join other people's flocks.

An interesting fact is that between the clans of African spotted hyenas there are constant wars for habitat. Predators constantly patrol the borders of their possessions, marked by their feces. A flock can number from ten to 100 individuals.

Habitat

The habitat of the spotted hyena is quite wide. Animals are found in the semi-desert, desert and foothill regions of Africa, as well as in the savannas. But striped hyenas also live in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran and India.

The habitat of spotted individuals extends from the Sahara to the Cape of Good Hope. Predators live in Kenya, Botswana, Congo, Namibia, in the Ngorongoro crater. AT eastern regions In Sudan and Ethiopia, hyenas are found even at an altitude of more than 4000 above sea level.

A dangerous predator - the spotted hyena - prefers the savannas for a reason, because they are always full of all kinds of animals that are included in the animal's diet. But in dense tropical forests predators feel uncomfortable.

What do predators eat?

The main diet for predators is meat. For a long time people believed that hyenas pick up only carrion, taking prey from other predators. But recent studies have shown that 90% of all food animals get on their own while hunting.

Hyenas are not particularly picky about their diet, so they do not disdain any meat that comes their way. They do not care what to eat: it can be a rotten elephant carcass or a live antelope. Of course, most their diet is made up of ungulates. Since predators lead a pack lifestyle, they all hunt together. So it’s easier for them to cope with the victim, although alone a hyena can also catch a small gazelle or antelope.

Spotted hyena lifestyle

The head of the community, the alpha female, leads her pack to hunt. Having found a suitable victim, the hyenas simply drive it and try to knock it down. As soon as the prey falls, they immediately begin to eat it. It is hard to imagine, but the powerful jaws of the animal cope with the tibia of a bull.

Alone, a hyena can kill an antelope that is three times its own size. And the herd is capable of slaughtering a buffalo or a baby elephant.

Hyenas are called the main scavengers for a reason. Their stomachs digest any food they eat, even hooves and horns. The main enemy for the predator is the lion. It is he who takes their prey from them. An adult lion can easily disperse a whole flock and appropriate all the meat.

How do individuals reproduce?

The first experts who studied hyenas mistakenly considered them to be hermaphrodites. These conclusions were based on the fact that animals have unique building reproductive system. This is what led to such a deep delusion. Female spotted hyenas and males have incredibly similar sex organs. In the first few years of their life, it is generally impossible to determine the sex. And only in the sixties of the twentieth century, scientists proved that predators have a certain gender, like all mammals.

Hyenas do not have a specific mating season; they can mate at any time of the year. Very often the breeding season coincides with the start of the rains.

The breeding process of the spotted hyena has its own characteristics. It is the males who begin their courtship first. They smell when the females are ready to mate. If the female is supportive, then the male bows his head low, thus expressing humility. He must be approved, otherwise the female may choose a representative of another tribe. This happens quite often.

The appearance of babies

Pregnancy lasts about four months. Offspring are born in a hole. As a rule, no more than three babies are born. Cubs are born with a well-developed jaw, they see and hear. Their weight is from 1 to 1.6 kilograms. If a female has two girls in one litter, then a fierce struggle immediately begins between them. Three months later, the babies already weigh 14 kilograms. The reason for this rapid growth is the incredibly fatty milk of hyenas. Females can go hunting for seven days and at the same time do not worry at all that their children will be hungry. At the age of three months, the young are already eating meat. Hyenas become adults by the age of two.

In the wild, predators live 20-25 years, and in captivity - up to 40 years.

Hyena enemies

Despite the fact that hyenas themselves are serious predators, in the wild they have enemies. These are lions and leopards, which often attack them in search of food. With a flock of hyenas predators can not cope. But they are capable of killing a pregnant female and young animals.

Some hyenas die from their relatives. The reason for this is gregariousness, which leads to war between certain groups.

At one time, a prejudiced attitude towards these animals led to the fact that they were massively destroyed. This caused a decrease in the number of spotted hyenas on earth. Currently, hyenas are under the protection of almost all states in whose territory they live.

Are hyenas helpful?

Despite the general hostile attitude towards predators, they are still beneficial. Hyenas are the main helpers that keep the shroud ecosystem in good condition. No wonder they are also called natural "nurses". In addition, predators annually destroy up to 12% of wildebeest, preventing their populations from growing uncontrollably. As a rule, sick and old animals fall into the claws of hyenas, therefore it is believed that they clear territories of excess individuals, thus maintaining balance.

Hyenas are quite interesting creatures, their mental level is at the level of primates, which means they are far from stupid.

Here are some amazing facts about these unusual animals:

1. Predators greet each other just like dogs do. It was this fact that at one time served as the reason that hyenas were classified as dogs.
2. AT Ancient Egypt domesticated such predators. They were bred for later use as food.
3. Young hyenas are born with open eyes, unlike all other animals. Babies live in the den only up to a year, after which they begin to hunt with their mother.
4. The female hyenas have elevated level testosterone (male hormone) compared to males. Perhaps this is the reason why matriarchy reigns in the tribe.
5. Hyenas often steal food from other carnivores. This behavior is not liked by their neighbors.
6. Despite the fact that the predator is not very large, the animal is a thunderstorm of the savannas. Developed jaws allow you to attack the victim, clinging to it with a stranglehold. Hyenas never kill prey, but devour it alive on the go. Their stomach is designed in such a way that it is able to digest any food, even bones and skins.
7. The enemies of hyenas include not only leopards and lions, but also crocodiles and hunting dogs.
8. It is believed that predators are incredibly cowardly, but this is not so. Hyenas can take prey from a lioness or a lion. And sometimes old weakened lions can be attacked by them.
9. In the folklore of many countries, hyenas have become a real symbol of betrayal, greed, deceit and baseness. African legends endow animals with all sorts of terrible qualities. However, there is no scientific evidence that hyenas attack people. Although a hunted animal is certainly capable of biting a person. Most likely, the consciousness of people is influenced by the stereotype of an animal that has been formed over the centuries, the inexplicable behavior of which frightened a person at all times. And what we do not understand causes fear.
10. In eastern Africa, there are tribes that revere the predator. They believe that hyenas are the messengers of the Sun, who are sent to Earth to warm it. And such a nation as the vaniki still reveres the predator more than its own leader. And the death of an animal for them is an incredible loss.

Instead of an afterword

Despite the general dislike, hyenas are common, but still dangerous predators which for many centuries instilled fear in people. However, the studies of modern scientists have made it possible to dispel the halo of mystery around this creature and show that all those extraordinary properties that people endowed them with are nothing more than fiction.

Hyena. Interesting Facts

Two interesting features hyenas are their crackling laughter and long front legs. After reading this article, you will learn facts about hyenas...

At one mention of hyenas, many people imagine animals resembling dogs that live in Africa and Asia. Animal lovers, of course, know about their special laughter. Hyenas call, crackle, and make other sounds to alert the rest of the group that food is coming. Their laughter can be heard at a distance of 5 km. Read on to find out the funny facts about hyenas.

Interesting facts about hyenas

According to evolutionary history, hyenas are believed to have evolved from tree species animals about 26 million years ago. Despite them small size, hyenas are the predominant carnivore animal species in Africa. Their standing position is reminiscent of a bear's stance, as the hind legs are shorter than the front. detailed information about hyenas for children is provided below.

Types of hyenas The list of African animals lists four species of hyena, namely the spotted hyena ( Crocuta Crocuta), brown hyena ( Hyaena brunnea), striped hyena ( Hyaena hyaena) and earthwolf ( Proteles cristatus). The largest of these hyenas - spotted hyena, whose weight upon reaching maturity can reach up to 85 kg. The next largest are the brown and striped hyena. The smallest is the earthwolf, which feeds mainly on insects.

Hyena habitat Hyenas prefer to live in savannahs, fields, forests, deserts, woodlands and high latitudes. They make their lair in elevated areas, which is connected to several underground tunnels. This helps them defend themselves against invading animals. As for the habitat striped hyena, then they live in large numbers in India and some other Asian countries.

Hyena food As for the eating habits of hyenas, they feed on both carrion and living things. Ability to eat various types food increases the survival rate of these tetrapods wild animals. They prefer to eat animals killed by other carnivores, which is why hyenas are often called scavengers. During the period of food shortage, they hunt themselves, wildebeest, monkeys and birds become their prey.

Hyena behavior

Hyenas- nocturnal mammals that prefer to live in groups, which helps them in scaring off predators. As for the spotted hyena, their groups consist of approximately 80 individuals. They mark their territory and fight invading animals. One female from a group of hyenas is the main one, as in matriarchy. Unlike other animals that live in groups, hyenas often fight each other.

Sexual demorphism Male spotted hyenas weigh about 45-60 kg, while females weigh 55-75 kg. Interestingly, female hyenas dominate males. They reach sexual maturity at the age of 2-3 years. There is no mating period as such. In a group spotted hyenas, the number of females is greater than the number of male hyenas.

Hyena breeding A strange fact about hyenas is that females avoid mating with males from their group. Most often they mate with males from other groups. After a three-month gestation period, the female gives birth to young. Hyena litter consists of 2-4 babies. Although they can eat meat from the age of 5 months, hyena cubs feed on their mother's milk for a year and a half.

hyena lifespan Hyenas live an average of 20-25 years. The record for life in captivity is 40 years. Striped hyenas in wild nature live up to 12 years. In captivity, their lifespan is longer, as they are safe from predators and fed the right food.

Fun Facts About Hyenas

Hyenas are amazing animals, their mental level corresponds to that of primates. This became clear thanks to research on the brain of hyenas. What follows are some facts about hyenas that will blow your mind.

• Hyenas greet each other just like dogs do. This has led to the misconception that these carnivores are dogs.
• Believe it or not, the ancient Egyptians domesticated hyenas. The main purpose of breeding hyenas was to use them as a source of food.
• Young hyenas are born with open eyes, unlike other baby animals. They live in the den for up to 1 year, after which they go hunting with their mother.
• At female hyenas increased levels of the hormone testosterone compared to male hyenas.
• In females, the level of this hormone is three times higher than in males. Not surprisingly, the female population is more masculine and aggressive than male hyenas.
• Hyenas often steal food from other carnivores. This behavior irritates other carnivores that share habitat with hyenas.
• Despite their size, hyenas have very strong jaws. Digestive system The hyena is adapted in such a way that it is able to digest all kinds of animal products, from soft vegetation to meat, hides and bones.
• Common predators of hyenas are leopards, lions, hunting dogs and crocodiles.

These were funny facts about hyenas. Regardless of the characteristics of hyenas, such as dominance and carnivorous diet, the population of these animals with strong jaw has decreased significantly over the past few decades. Thus, hyenas are included in the list of endangered animals. The main threat to these carnivores animals is habitat loss and hunting for them.