Follow us on TripAdvisor! Follow us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Watch us on YouTube! Follow us on Pinterest! Follow us on Instagram! Meet The Animals. Habitat: The spotted hyena, also known as the laughing hyena or tiger wolf, is native to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Physical: Hyenas weigh 90 to pounds. Life Cycle: The spotted hyena is a non-seasonal breeder, though a birth peak does occur during the wet season. Diet: The spotted hyena primarily kills and scavenges mammalian herbivores. Fun Facts: Spotted hyenas can trot at 6 miles per hour without getting tired for long distances. They can run up to 30 miles per hour and make good swimmers. Cubs will attack each other shortly after birth.
They are one of the most vocal mammals in Africa, with over 11 different sounds recorded by researchers. The famous chatter they produce actually sounds like a human laughing hysterically. A single hyena can take less than 2 minutes to eat a gazelle fawn, while a group of 35 hyenas can completely consume an adult zebra in 36 minutes.
Hyenas can eat one-third their body weight at one meal. Spotted hyenas can digest things that most other animals cannot, like skin and bone.
Special acids in their stomach break down these rare delicacies. Hyena fossils have been found in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, but hyenas have only lived in Africa for the last 5, years. Ecology and Conservation: Spotted hyenas play a major role in Africa. When hunting alone, a spotted hyena may go after smaller prey. Ground birds, rabbits, springhare, bat-eared foxes, porcupines, jackals, and fish can be on the menu.
Even ostrich eggs are fair game! Spotted hyenas also scavenge, but they have to compete with jackals and vultures for these leftovers. A hyena can eat quite a bit at one time.
Sometimes, leftovers are buried in a mud hole for a later meal. Spotted hyenas give new meaning to the phrase "lick the platter clean. Powerful jaws are able to crush bones with ease.
A complex clan: The spotted hyena social system is complex. There can be up to individuals in a clan. Spotted hyenas have a matriarchal society. The females are larger and, on average, much more assertive and aggressive to the males. Lower-ranking males are forced to stay on the outskirts of the clan and are only allowed to join during a hunt or a fight against another clan or lions.
Life starts out rough for a young hyena cub. The average litter has two cubs, and the competition between them starts right away. Cubs are born with dark fur, their eyes open, and some teeth already present. They fight over who will be the dominant one and nurse first, sometimes killing their weaker sibling. Mom keeps the cubs in a private den at first to ensure their survival.
At two to six weeks of age, the mother moves the cubs to a den shared by other mothers in the same clan and their young. Although there may be many cubs from different mothers, each mother nurses just her own. How they hunt, how they eat, and how they fight are all determined by rank within the clan. At about two months of age, the cub starts to lose its brown coat and begins to look like the spotted adults.
The young continue to nurse until about one to two years old. Females stay with their birth clan, but the males leave upon maturity at around age three, if not sooner. Half of all spotted hyena young die before they reach maturity. Spotted hyenas have distinctive vocalizations. In fact, they are the most vocal mammals in Africa, with over 11 different sounds recorded.
The famous giggle they produce sounds like a human laughing. The "whoop" is a call heard for miles and is used to find cubs, advertise territory, or bring the clan together.
Spotted hyenas can tell which individual makes the whoop. Groans and squeals are used to greet each other. According to campers, these animals have even been known to consume aluminum pots and pans.
Hyenas are widespread and found in most habitats. Spotted hyenas are found in all habitats, including savannas, grasslands, woodlands, forest edges, subdeserts, and even mountains up to 4, meters. Unleash more canine heroes to save elephants. Donate now. Learn how we're protecting Africa's species each and every day so we never have to live in a world without elephants, rhinos, and other precious wildlife. Breadcrumb Wildlife Conservation Hyena. What are hyenas? Scientific name. Crocuta crocuta spotted hyena , Hyaena hyaena striped hyena , Parahyaena brunnea brown hyena.
About 35 to 80 kilograms 77 to to pounds. Life span. Up to 20 years in the wild and 25 years in captivity. There are. Snares kill about. Clans can grow to. Challenges Human-wildlife conflict is a major threat to hyenas. Solutions Our solutions to protecting the hyena:.
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