We use cookies to improve user experience and serve interest-based ads through our advertisement partner. Females are larger than males and measure up to 1.85 metres in length and weigh up to 82 kg. Hyena fossils have been discovered in Africa, North America, Asia and Europe. Large and reputed as timid and cowardly carnivores, hyenas are commonly found in Africa. unlike its brown and striped cousins, the spotted hyena is a predator, not a scavenger. In case of spotted hyenas, females are larger than males and males are dominated by females. 2. The Spotted Hyena is the largest of the hyena family which also includes the brown hyena, the striped hyena, and the aardwolf. Come face-to-face with the wonders of wildlife through species-focused episodes and related classroom activities. 23. 10. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T5674A45194782. 3. For male spotted hyenas, time of dispersal, mating opportunities and access to kills depends on their ability to dominate other male members of the clan. They make a wide range of sounds to communicate with their clan members. Hyena Big Jaw Spotted Hyena Diet : 1. Social rank of a hyena can be found out using the notes frequency variation. 6. Female hyenas possess similar looking reproductive organs to males therefore accurate sexing can be difficult. Basically these postures are methods of communication. Female hyena have two nipples. Their milk is the highest in terms of protein of any land carnivore. 14. At birth cubs are black in colour. Discover One Of The World’s Best-Known Predators, The spotted hyena has one of the most powerful bites in the animal kingdom, A group of spotted hyenas is called a clan, and is led by females. The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), also known as the laughing hyena, is a hyena species, currently classed as the sole extant member of the genus Crocuta, native to sub-Saharan Africa. Crocuta crocuta. Spotted hyenas are carnivores. They have massive teeth to bite any hard skin. On the neck the spots are replaced with 5 faint black lines. However, the lion and the hyena are direct competitors, and aggressive encounters between the two species often occur. They patrol and maintain home ranges which vary in size from 40 km² up to 1000 km². Follow the link below to find out more and to sign up! Spotted hyenas live in large groups called clans, which can include up to 80 hyenas. Once they finish eating they may bury some of their food to come back to later. 1. This species is also referred to as the laughing hyena. It is a very efficient eater and can digest animal parts that other carnivores don’t normally consume, such as skin and bones. Clans may consist of up to 80 individuals with a female leading them. At the shoulder they stand 77-81cm (2.5-2.6ft) tall. Between two and six weeks old the cubs are moved to a shared den where a number of mothers from the same clan keep their cubs. Females have external genitalia which looks much the same as the males and is known as a pseudo-penis. 4. They are able to eat almost the entire animal including skin, hooves, bone, teeth, hair and horns. 27. ActiveWild.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon stores. Cubs usually go out on scavenging expeditions with their mothers at the age of 1 year. Their predation helps to keep the balance between these herds and their food resources. Spotted hyena clans are territorial. It has one of the strongest bite strengths of any mammal due to its strong jaws. One clan may consist of up to 80 hyenas. Hyenas prefer to hunt at night. To begin with the cubs live in a private den where mum can ensure they survive. Spotted hyenas are actually omnivores and they eat even vegetable matter. Spotted hyena cubs are born with their eyes open and some of their teeth in place. While hyenas are most commonly found in Africa, they are also native to Asia. The spotted hyena is listed by the IUCN as a species of least concern. Hyenas are also important to the study of the evolution of carnivores. A spotted hyena clan features a strong hierarchical organization. As a result, hyenas are sometimes killed by lions. Hyenas are very dangerous predators, they used to hunt all mammals. The mood of a spotted hyena can be understood from its different postures and its tail. am still wondering the behaviors of Hyena, very complicated. 9) A Female hyena gives birth to one or two cubs a year, which she nurses in a den. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990. Spotted hyenas are carnivores. Spotted hyenas mate several times during the year. However, the species is not common in more extreme desert conditions, tropical rainforests or high mountain elevations. Vocalizations made by the spotted hyena include a whoop, grunt, groan, giggle, yell, growl, whine or squeal. Crazy about roller coasters? I ma going to share if I can I am at school doing this. Though hyenas look like large dogs, they are actually more similar to cats like lions and tigers. Unusually high testosterone levels in female spotted hyenas create not only larger, stronger and more aggressive girls, but also transform the female sex … 29. Keep coming back and if you need information on specific topics covered by our website, feel free to request us through the ‘New facts request page’. Though spotted hyenas are capable of digesting bones and skins, they fail to completely digest hooves, horns and hair of their prey. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T5674A45194782. This means that they are more aggressive. Find quick information and fun facts with these 1-page easy resources about animals from A to Z. 11. Height at shoulders is 2.5 to 3 ft. (76-91 cm), body length ranges from 4 to 5 ft. (122-152 cm) and bushy tails are 10 to 14 in. 2. The cubs drink their mother’s milk for 12-16 months and usually start hunting with the clan at around 12 months. 10. 2015. this will embrace young rhinos, adult antelope, zebras, and buffalo. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. All Rights Reserved. Join Our Mailing List to Get Daily Animal Profiles & Animal News Delivered to Your Mailbox. San Francisco Examiner Image. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T5674A45194782.en. A spotted hyena can eat up to one third of its body weight at one meal. But they’re also known to use a wide range of other vocal sounds to communicate with one another that include growling, grunts, groans, whoops, whines and squeals. Top 10 Things to Consider Before Buying a Dog, Top 10 Ways to Make your Garden more Wildlife Friendly, Top 10 Things to Think about Before Buying Fish, Top 10 Ways to be an Eco-Friendly Traveller, The Spotted Hyena can chase its prey reaching speeds of 37mph, The Spotted Hyenas laugh resembles that of a human, and became popular during their appearance in Disney’s ‘The Lion King’. By using our website, you agree to the cookie and privacy policy of Facts Legend. It also eats smaller animals such as snakes, lizards, birds and insects. Take a closer look at these encyclopedia books including information about animal habitats, behavior, and scientific classification. Spotted hyenas featured in Disney’s The Lion King. Your email address will not be published. All females are more powerful than any male. Spotted hyenas are extremely vocal animals. We make information. Each clan defends its area from intruding clans. It is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN on account of its widespread range and large numbers estimated between 27,000 and 47,000 individuals. In other words, they are social animals. 13. One of the noises it makes sounds somewhat like giggling, which is why the spotted hyena is also known as the laughing hyena. The other members of the family are the striped hyena, the brown hyena and the aardwolf. It may be fresh, dead, taste or tasteless or whatever it is. Click on the photo below to discover this week’s animal! 15. Hyenas have the extraordinary ability to eat and digest bone, horns, hooves and even teeth. Spotted hyenas are known for their “laughs”, it makes human crazy. From fun and affordable field trips for students to amazing summer adventures, our camps combine education and entertainment in a way that connects people to the sea and sea life like nowhere else. It is not uncommon for cubs which are the same sex will begin to fight violently after birth. The spotted hyena lives in many different habitats, including semi-deserts, savanna, open woodland, dense dry woodland, and sometimes even in mountainous regions. 6. It regularly consumes large mammals such as zebras and wildebeests, as well as medium-sized prey such as warthogs and Thompson’s gazelles. They will find the leftovers and will eat these. 8. Some studies have shown spotted hyenas to be capable of outdoing chimpanzees in tests of intelligence. They hunt in smaller groups and use various techniques to attack different types of animals. By Appaloosa (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons, By Jürgen at nl.wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], from Wikimedia Commons, By User:Budgiekiller (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons, By D. Gordon E. Robertson (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons. The Spotted Hyena, A Study of Predation and Social Behavior. Enemies of hyenas are lions and wild dogs. The spotted hyena is often unfairly labelled as a scavenger. Spotted hyenas require very little water to survive despite the fact that they eat quite a lot of dry bones. The spotted hyena’s teeth, jaws and skull are specially adapted for strength, allowing the hyena to crush the bones of its prey. Cubs are born with open eyes. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 2. A dog, for example, such as a Mastiff or Rottweiler, has an average bite strength of 325 pounds per square inch.