Female hyena. The complex and interesting life of hyenas

The hyena is a wild mammal that belongs to the placental infraclass, the carnivorous order, the feliform suborder, and the hyena family (lat. Hyaenidae).

The Latin name of the family was formed from two words of the ancient Greek language “ὕαινα” and “ὗς”, meaning pig or boar. This is probably due to the unpleasant odor emanating from the hyena and its bristly back, which resembles the withers of a wild boar. The word “hyena” entered the Russian language as a free reading international name families. It is noteworthy that the same name is applied to both male and female individuals, referring to singular female.

Hyena - description, structure, characteristics. What does a hyena look like?

Despite the fact that hyenas belong to the suborder Felidae, in appearance they are more reminiscent of dogs. These are quite large animals, the length of their body including tail can reach 190 cm. Weight Limit hyenas do not exceed 80 kg. The body of the predator is powerful and muscular, significantly expanded in the thoracic region and more narrowed in the sacral region. Due to the fact that the hind, slightly curved limbs are somewhat shorter than the front, hyenas have a sloping back, descending from the scapular region to the sacral part. The hind legs appear thin and rather weak, especially in the thigh area. Almost all species (except for the aardwolf) have 4 toes on the front and hind legs with blunt, long, non-retractable claws. The forelimbs of aardwolves are five-fingered. Under the fingers of hyenas there are convex finger pads, which the animal steps on when walking. The fingers themselves are connected by a dense, thick and elastic membrane that reaches the pads.

Except for the sloping back, characteristic feature The hyena has a massive, thick head with a short, thick muzzle. The neck of the animals is quite short and wide.

Powerful jaws make it possible to crush the thickest bones of the victim thanks to the special structure of the hyena’s skull and large, specially shaped teeth.

The hyena's body is covered with shaggy, coarse hair, colored yellowish-gray or brown. The undercoat is poorly developed or absent. On the neck and on the ridge almost along the entire back, the hair is longer and has the appearance of a mane.

The color of the fur is heterogeneous: often the hyena’s skin is covered with blurry spots or fairly clear dark stripes, both throughout the body and only on the paws. The hyena's tail is quite short and shaggy.

Animals communicate with each other using squealing, barking, growling or “laughing” sounds.

By the way, hyenas laugh in a very unusual way: their laughter, or laughter, is very similar to humans. Basically, laughing sounds are characteristic of spotted hyenas.

Lifespan of hyenas

In nature, a hyena lives about 12-15 years; in the zoo, its life expectancy is about 24 years.

Where do hyenas live?

All hyenas live in savannas, desert, semi-desert areas and foothills of the African continent. The distribution range of species sometimes overlaps, so they often coexist in the same territory. The exception is the striped hyena, which is found in North-West India, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Turkey and Iran. Populations of these hyenas have been recorded in the countries of the former Soviet Union: Armenia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. The remaining hyenas live in Sudan and Kenya, Namibia and Botswana, South Africa, as well as in other countries of East, Northeast and Southern Africa.

What do hyenas eat?

Brown and striped hyenas They usually hunt solitarily and are primarily scavengers, sometimes feeding on eggs, invertebrates, or small vertebrates. Spotted hyenas often go out in search of prey in small groups and take prey from jackals, cheetahs, and leopards. Often they themselves organize hunts for rodents, birds, turtles, antelopes, young giraffes, zebras and even elephant calves. In addition, these predators are not averse to feasting on domestic animals (for example, sheep). Sometimes spotted hyenas attack buffaloes, and when gathered in a large flock, they are able to kill this large animal. During the hungry season, spotted hyenas can be content with carrion: the corpses of small and large animals, including sea animals, as well as food waste. In addition, the menu of all members of the family, except for aardwolves, also includes plant foods. Hyenas readily eat nuts and plant seeds, as well as melons - watermelons, melons, and fruits from the pumpkin family.

Unlike other species, the aardwolf never feeds on the corpses of dead animals. Its diet is based on termites, carrion beetles, and insect larvae. When the opportunity arises, it catches small rodents, destroys bird nests and eats not only the eggs, but also the birds themselves.

How do hyenas hunt?

Not so long ago, hyenas were considered exclusively scavengers, but, as it turned out, this was wrong. As a result of numerous observations of these animals, it was found that in almost 90% of cases predators kill a pre-designated victim. This is especially true of spotted hyenas, which drive their chosen prey in a pack, developing speeds of up to 65 kilometers per hour and maintaining this figure at a distance of up to 5 kilometers. Such sprinting abilities make hyenas very dexterous and successful hunters, so almost all chases end successfully. A pack of hyenas can easily catch any animal - from a small wildebeest to a large buffalo and a young giraffe. For comparison: maximum speed a lion reaches 80 kilometers per hour, but he develops it very rarely, with great difficulty and not for long. On average, a lion's running speed is 50 km/h.

Contrary to popular belief, very often not only hyenas try to take prey from lions, but the lions themselves are not averse to feasting on an already defeated and captured victim. True, for a lone lion such attempts usually end in complete failure, especially if there are many hyenas. They bravely press on the lion when it tries to take their prey. By the way, among all the predators, only a pack of hyenas can give a worthy rebuff to the formidable king of beasts. Old or sick lions often become victims of hyenas: in a matter of minutes, a dozen hyenas tear the lion to pieces, eating it along with its skin and bones. However, there are cases when several lionesses or a large male lion drive away an entire clan of hyenas from their prey, and sometimes kill them or their helpless cubs.

Classification of hyenas, list and names

Today, from the once large species diversity of the hyena family, only 4 species remain, the differences between which made it possible to divide the family into 3 genera. Two of them were combined into the subfamily of striped hyenas Hyaeninae, and aardwolves were allocated to the subfamily Protelinae.

The hyena family (lat. Hyaenidae) includes:

1. Genus Hyaena (Brisson, 1762)
   • View Hyaena brunnea(Thunberg, 1820) – Brown hyena
   • View Hyaena hyaena(Linnaeus, 1758) – Striped hyena
2. Genus Crocuta (Kaup, 1828)
   • View Crocuta crocuta(Erxleben, 1777) – Spotted hyena
3. Genus Proteles (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1824)
   • View Proteles cristata(Sparrman, 1783) – Aardwolf

Types of hyenas, photos and names

Below is short description varieties of hyenas.

• Striped hyena ( Hyaena hyaena)

A fairly large animal with a body length of 0.9 to 1.2-1.5 meters and a height at the withers of up to 0.8 m. The length of the tail is about 30 cm. Males are much larger than females, therefore, depending on gender, a hyena weighs from 27 to 54 (sometimes 60) kg. Thanks to a special mane of coarse hair, the length of which sometimes reaches 30 cm, the height of the scapular region becomes more pronounced. The coat, about 7 cm long, is dirty gray or brownish-yellow in color with black or brown stripes running across the body. The characteristic structure of the striped hyena's paws becomes especially noticeable when walking, which is why the animal appears to be dragging its hindquarters. The toes on the front and hind limbs are tightly connected. The striped hyena's head is large, with a slightly elongated muzzle and wide, pointed ears. big size. 34 teeth, which are located in wide jaws, driven by powerful muscles, allow you to tear meat and bones into pieces. The striped hyena lives in clay deserts or rocky foothills. It goes out in search of prey at night and twilight, and during the day it sits out in crevices, abandoned burrows or caves. Striped hyenas are the only members of the family that can live in territories not located on the African continent. The habitat of this species includes the countries of North Africa, as well as areas located south of the Sahara. These animals are found in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, India and the countries of the Arabian Peninsula.

• Brown hyena ( Hyaena brunnea)

This species differs from the striped hyena in its more modest size. The body length of these animals rarely exceeds 1.1 - 1.25 m (according to some sources, maximum length reaches 1.6 m). The height at the withers is 70–88 cm. The sizes of males and females are practically the same, although the weight of males is slightly larger and can exceed 48 kg, while the body weight of females barely reaches 40 kg. The light mane, up to 30 cm long, hanging from the neck along the entire spine of these hyenas, looks contrasting against the shaggy, monochromatic, brown-brown coat, which is slightly longer than that of their striped relatives. Characteristic feature This species has a gray coloration of the head and legs, with horizontal whitish stripes clearly visible on the legs. The neck and shoulders are colored White color. The size of the skull of brown hyenas is larger than that of striped hyenas, and the teeth are more durable. Below the base of the tail, these animals have an anal gland that produces black and white secretions. With its help, the animal marks the boundaries of its territory. Brown hyenas live in desert and semi-desert areas, found in savannas and forests, but most populations are confined to coastal areas. The brown hyena's habitat includes Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique, Tanzania and Somalia, as well as other African countries located south of the current the Zambezi River along the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. These animals go out in search of food after dark.

• Spotted hyena ( Crocuta crocuta)

A wild animal from the genus Crocuta. Spotted hyenas are the most typical representatives of the entire family. This is expressed in the characteristic structure of the animal’s body and its habits. The length of the body with a tail can reach 1.6 m (according to some sources 1.85 m), the height at the withers is up to 80 cm. The weight of female hyenas ranges from 44.5 kg to 82 kg, males are much lighter and weigh from 40 kg to 62 kg. The yellowish-gray or sand-colored coat, decorated with rounded spots of dark brown or black color on the sides, back and limbs, is shorter than that of its relatives. Depending on the habitat, body color can vary from lighter to darker tones. The hair on the head is brown, with a reddish tint on the cheeks and nape. Brown rings are clearly visible on the rather short tail with a dark tip. There may be light-colored “socks” on the front and hind limbs of the mammal. Unlike representatives of other species, spotted hyenas have shorter ears and their tips are rounded. These hyenas have the largest “repertoire” of vocal communication, allowing them to express various emotions. Spotted hyenas live in savannas and on the elevated plateaus of Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana and other countries in South or East Africa. Spotted hyenas are most active at night, although they can scour in search of prey during the day. Social organization Spotted hyena clans are based on female dominance, so even high-ranking males are subordinate to low-ranking females.

• Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus )

The smallest species of the hyena family. Unlike spotted and striped hyenas, aardwolves have a more fragile build. The body length of these animals reaches 55-100 cm with a height at the withers of up to 50 cm, and the weight of individuals is 8-14 kg. Like all hyenas, the hind limbs of aardwolves are shorter than the front ones, but the sloping back is not so pronounced. The head of these animals is slightly elongated and resembles a dog’s in appearance. On the coat, which is yellowish-gray or reddish in color, black transverse stripes are clearly visible. The same stripes are visible on the legs of the animal. The long hanging mane, running along the entire ridge, at the moment of danger takes on a vertical position and visually increases the size of this small predator. The jaws of aardwolves are much weaker than those of other species, which is due to the wolf's diet, which feeds on termites and other insects and their larvae, such as carrion beetles. These representatives of hyenas, the only ones in the entire family, have five toes on their forelimbs. Aardwolves live in most countries of Eastern, Northeastern and Southern Africa, being absent only from the tropical forests of Tanzania and Zambia, which makes the distribution range of this species fragmented. These predators prefer to settle in places where there are open sandy plains and bushes. They go in search of food in the twilight and night hours, and during the day they sit out in abandoned porcupine burrows, although they are capable of digging shelters for themselves.

Extinct species of hyenas

Pachycrocuta brevirostris is an extinct species of hyena. Judging by those found in Eurasia, eastern and south africa fossilized bones, these hyenas were real giants. The average weight of the predator was approximately 110 kg, and the size of the animal can be compared with the size of a modern lioness. Perhaps representatives of the species were scavengers, since with such impressive dimensions it was not easy to develop high speed for hunting.

Hyena breeding

Depending on the species, there are some differences in the reproduction of hyenas.

U striped hyenas, living in the northern part of the range and on the Eurasian continent, the mating season lasts from January to the end of February, and in populations living in Africa it is not seasonal. Hyenas form stable pairs that can exist for quite some time. long time. The gestation period of a hyena lasts 3 months, after which 1 to 4 blind and toothless cubs are born. Babies' eyes open on the seventh or eighth day of life. Education younger generation Not only the mother, but also the father are engaged. The family usually includes a pair of adult individuals and grown-up offspring that remain with their parents until they are one year old. Such families live both isolated from relatives and forming communities of several groups. Striped hyenas reach sexual maturity by 2-3, and sometimes only by the 4th year of life.

Females brown hyenas capable of producing offspring already in the 2nd or 3rd year of life. Their mating season begins in May and ends at the end of July. Due to the peculiarities of the clan structure in a flock, only dominant females mate with the leader of the clan or with single males, however, if several females in the flock become pregnant, they will help each other in nursing the offspring. Around the ninetieth day of pregnancy, females give birth to litters. It can contain from 1 to 5 puppies, whose weight reaches 1 kg. Their fur is gray in color with dark stripes visible on it. In the first few days, newborn hyenas are blind and open their eyes only after a week. The mother is mainly involved in raising the growing offspring, although all members of the flock bring food to the babies. Breastfeeding lasts up to 12 months.

Unlike other species, the structure of the clan in spotted hyenas based on the dominance of the dominant female. Males serve as guards of the flock's boundaries, serve for fertilization and food production. Females are able to reproduce throughout the year. After 14-15 weeks of pregnancy, the female hyena gives birth to offspring, which can include from 1-3 to 7 babies. The weight of puppies sometimes exceeds 1.5 kilograms. It is noteworthy that newborn spotted hyenas are born fully sighted and with rather sharp teeth. The fur coat of babies is monochromatic, devoid of characteristic spots. Mother's milk very nutritious, so after one feeding the cubs do not feel hungry for a week. Unlike brown hyenas, this species provides food only to its offspring.

Aardwolves, like striped hyenas, create stable monogamous pairs. In rare cases, when the male is unable to defend the territory in which the family lives, the female aardwolf can mate with a stronger individual, although the offspring will be raised by the main partner. The mating period lasts from late June to early July. Pregnancy lasts about 90 days, after which the female gives birth to 2-4 puppies.

Aardwolf cubs are born sighted but toothless. For the first three months, the father of the family carefully protects his territory from predators. Puppies that reach 12 weeks of age begin to accompany their parents in search of food. Upon reaching four months of age, the cubs are weaned breastfeeding and switch to independent feeding, although they continue to stay with their parents throughout the year. These animals reach sexual maturity in the second year of life.

Regardless of the species, hyena childbirth is quite difficult, which is due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of their genital organs, and lasts about 12 hours. There are frequent cases of death of a mother weakened by childbirth, who can be attacked by lions. Most cubs die immediately after birth. The fact is that due to the increase in testosterone in pregnant females, the cubs receive a very large dose of this male hormone and become extremely aggressive immediately after birth. They fight, bite and very often kill each other. After some time, the puppies' testosterone levels decrease and they become more peaceful.

By the way, hyenas are extremely caring mothers who feed their cubs with milk from 4 months (for aardwolves) to 12-16 months (for other species). Moreover, unlike lion prides, in clans and families of hyenas, females make sure that the babies are first fed with prey, and only then do they allow adult males to approach her. Scientists believe that it is for this reason that females are more aggressive than males, because they have to take care of their offspring.

Enemies of hyenas in nature

Hyenas have enemies in their natural habitat - lions and leopards. These large predators often attack hyenas wandering alone in search of food, kill young animals or pregnant females during childbirth, but they practically do not dare to attack a pack of hyenas.

A certain percentage of hyenas die from the teeth of their own relatives. The reason for this is the obvious gregariousness of these animals, which leads to competition and wars between clans for expanding the boundaries of territories.

Security status

All types of hyenas are quite rare animals, which is associated with a reduction in natural habitat and food supply caused by human activity. Night life and the inaccessibility of the places where hyenas live are the main reason why the lifestyle of these mammals remains poorly understood. Therefore, in many zoos around the world, spacious enclosures have been built, where conditions are recreated that are close to the natural habitat of predators. Here the animals feel at ease, as if in their natural habitat. Branched burrows or covered shelters are prepared for them so that mothers and their newborn babies feel safe.

Hyena and jackal - differences

Hyenas, like jackals, are representatives of the order of predatory mammals, but there are quite a few differences between them:

• Hyenas are much larger than jackals: on average, their body length ranges from 0.8 m to 1.6 m, and the weight of adult animals ranges from 14 kg to 80 kg or more. The jackal's body reaches no more than 0.6-0.85 m in length, and the animal weighs only 8 to 10 kg.
• Jackals belong to the canid family (lat. Canidae), while hyenas belong to the hyena family (lat. Hyaenidae). In appearance and lifestyle, jackals occupy a middle place between foxes and wolves. The muzzles of these animals are sharper than those of wolves, but not sharp enough compared to foxes. Hyenas, unlike jackals, are more similar in skull structure to cats.
• Unlike the hyena, the jackal's hind and front legs are the same length, so when viewed from the side its back does not appear sloping.
• The gestation period for jackals lasts only 2 months, and for hyenas it takes from 3 to 3.5 months. Female jackals are more fertile; one litter can have from 4 to 7, and sometimes 8 cubs. A hyena litter usually contains no more than 3-4 puppies, although a spotted hyena litter can sometimes have up to 7 newborns.
• Under natural conditions, jackals aged 8-10 years are considered long-livers; in captivity they can live up to 12-14 years, sometimes even up to 16 years. Hyenas live in nature no more than 12-15 years, and in zoos - up to 24 years of age.
• Hyenas very rarely get rabies; jackals are more sensitive to this virus.

Hyena on the left, jackal on the right (just be sure to indicate the type of hyena and the type of jackal). Photo credits: Yathin S Krishnappa (CC BY-SA 4.0), Thimindu (CC BY-SA 2.0)

• Since ancient times, humans have retained a prejudiced attitude towards the hyena. People's imagination has always been excited by the sloppy appearance and unpleasant smell emanating from this animal, its eating habits, behavior and, of course, the laughter of a hyena, similar to a human. All this gave rise to myths and various legends about this animal, which were passed down from generation to generation and gradually turned into facts. Only at the end of the 20th century (1984) a center for the study of the hyena family was opened in California at the University of Berkeley. There are still 40 spotted hyenas kept here today.
• The ancient Greeks believed that these animals are hermaphrodites, that is, a female can easily turn into a male and vice versa. Only after studying hyenas did modern scientists find out that among hyenas there are both females and males, but the external genitalia of males and females are very similar in appearance. The clitoris of female spotted hyenas is quite large and reaches a length of 15 cm, and the pouch-like fold formed by the labia resembles a scrotum in appearance. This unusual structure of the external genitalia of females is associated with increased levels of testosterone (male hormone) in the body of pregnant hyenas. The embryos developing in the womb seem to be “bathing” in this hormone. Subsequently, this also affects the character of the females.
• It is believed that hyenas are very cowardly, but, contrary to this belief, they are capable of taking prey from a lone lion or lioness. Sometimes old, sick lions themselves can become victims of hyenas.
• Representatives of the hyena family in the folklore of many nations have become the personification of betrayal, deceit, baseness, gluttony and greed. In the legends of the peoples of Africa, these animals are capable of not only laughing like a person, but also imitating his speech, inviting passers-by into the darkness, hypnotizing them with their gaze, and then killing them. Fortunately, there is no scientific evidence of hyena attacks on humans. But if the animal is driven into a trap, it can bite off the hunter's fingers.
• Most often, when in trouble, a hyena does not resist. Pretending to be dead, she waits for the danger to disappear, and then “comes to life.”
• In East Africa there are peoples who revere this animal. The Tavbs believe that hyenas are animals of the Sun that brought the light to the Earth to warm it. The Waniki people consider the hyena their ancestor and mourn its loss more than the loss of a chief.
• Previously, people were able to different parts hyenas (skin, liver, brain, other organs) prepare healing potions that supposedly cure various ailments. For example, eye diseases were treated with her liver. The skin had “magical properties”; people believed that with its help they could protect crops in the fields and their homes from hail.

The mammal called the spotted hyena, the only member of the genus Crocuta, belongs to the hyena family. This large predator very rarely feeds on carrion, leads a group lifestyle, and its howl resembles 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, its 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, grayish in color, decorated with brown spots on the sides and upper legs. The fur is coarse and 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 its length, the paws below are white. The color as a whole is quite variable, it can be either lighter or darker. The body is massive. The ears are round in shape. Due to the longer front legs compared to the hind legs, the animal at first glance seems clumsy and slow, but in fact such anatomical features help the hyena move as quickly as possible over long distances. In females, high testosterone levels cause the formation of false male organs.

Until recently, spotted hyenas were considered typical scavengers, but research has shown that in 90% of cases they kill their victims. Hyenas hunt at a speed of about 65 km/h and are very successful. They can catch almost all animals: from small animals to buffalo and young ones. Hyenas detect their victims using sight and hearing, and can pursue them at distances of up to 5 km.

Having overtaken and knocked down the victim, the spotted hyena immediately begins to eat it. The strong pressure of its powerful jaws allows the animal to gnaw the bones of its prey with ease. The rough tongue helps scrape meat off bones. Thanks to the long digestive tract, the food received by hyenas is completely absorbed.

A spotted hyena that hunts alone can kill an antelope 3 times its size, but more often these predators hunt in twos. Packs of hyenas even attack buffalos, 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 entire 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. Not only do they not differ in size and appearance, but moreover, due to high testosterone levels, females can even develop false male organs.

The lifestyle of spotted hyenas is 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 displace males and interfere with their attempts to occupy higher positions in the group, but they do not always succeed. The struggle for power among females begins with childhood. They get into fights among themselves, which are very serious and often end in death. Weaker females die, but the stronger 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 sexual maturity always leave for other clans.

On social status The spotted hyena is indicated by the position of its tail: if it is raised up, then this indicates a high social status of the animal, but if it is lowered, then the status is low.

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

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

Spotted hyenas are beneficial to nature and to people. They are real savannah orderlies, destroying animal corpses and preventing the spread of various diseases. Today, the population size of this species has decreased compared to previous levels, but there is still no threat of its extinction.

• It is interesting that, contrary to popular belief, it is the lion who is inclined to take prey from the hyena, and not vice versa. The hyena clan 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 hunting their cubs, and sick and old adult animals. Hyenas take holes from foxes and use them during mating season for breeding offspring.
• When a group of spotted hyenas near their prey meets a clan of brown hyenas, a fight certainly breaks out between relatives, in which the large and strong spotted hyenas usually win. They fight with their opponents with their entire 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 this very quickly, until other members of the group do the same.

The spotted hyena is a predatory mammal of the hyena family. This is the most common member of the Crocuta species. They are also known as the laughing orderlies of the African open spaces.

Description of the spotted hyena

These representatives of the fauna are famous for their bad character. “People” consider them to be aggressive, cowardly animals that feed on carrion. Is this deserved? A traveler with a lack of experience in Africa faces many dangers. The spotted hyena is one of them. More often they attack in flocks at night. Therefore, woe to the guest who did not light a fire and stock up on wood for the whole night.

This is interesting! Research shows that the spotted hyena's social intelligence is on par with some primate species. Their mental development one step higher than other predators, due to the structure of the frontal cortex of the brain.

It is believed that the ancestors of the spotted hyena branched off from the true hyena (striped or brown) during the Pliocene era, 5.332 million to 1.806 million years ago. Spotted ancestors of hyenas, with developed social behavior, increased pressure from rivals forced me to “learn” to work as a team. They began to borrow more large territories. This is also due to the fact that migrating animals often became their prey. The evolution of hyena behavior was not without the influence of lions - their direct enemies. Practice has shown that it is easier to survive by forming prides - communities. This helped them hunt and defend their territories more efficiently. As a result, their numbers increased.

According to the fossil record, the first species appeared in the Indian Subcontinent. Spotted hyenas colonized the Middle East. Since then, the spotted hyena's habitat, as well as its appearance, have changed slightly.

Appearance

The length of the spotted hyena ranges from 90 to 170 cm, depending on gender, development and age, height – 85-90 cm. The hyena’s body is covered with short, coarse hair with undercoat. The long coat covers only the neck, creating the appearance of a light mane. The body color is pale brown with a darkened muzzle, similar to a mask. The spotted hyena's fur is covered with dark spots. In some individuals, in the area of ​​the back of the head it has a slightly reddish tint. The hyena's body has a slanted body with high shoulders and low hips. Their large, round body stands on relatively thin gray paws, each with four toes. The hind legs are slightly shorter than the front legs. Large round ears are set high on the head. The spotted hyena's muzzle shape is short and wide with a thick neck, similar in appearance to that of a dog.

Sexual dimorphism is pronounced in the appearance and behavior of spotted hyenas. Females are significantly larger than males due to excess testosterone. Females have more of it than males. On average, female spotted hyenas are 10 kg heavier than males and have a more muscular body. They are also much more aggressive.

We should also talk about her voice. The spotted hyena is capable of making up to 10-12 different sounds, differentiated as signals for relatives . Laughter, similar to a prolonged howl, is used for communication between individuals. Animals can greet each other using moans and squeals. You can also hear "giggling", howling and growling from them. For example, a low growl with a closed mouth symbolizes aggression. A hyena can make such a sound to a pack when a lion approaches.

The reaction to the same signals from different individuals can also be different. The inhabitants of the flock react to the cries of males “reluctantly”, with a delay, and to the sounds made by the female - immediately.

Lifestyle

Spotted hyenas live in large clans, from 10 to 100 individuals. These are mostly females; they form a so-called matriarchal clan led by an alpha female. They mark their territory and defend it from other hyenas. There is a strict hierarchy within the clan among females who compete with each other for social position. Females dominate males through aggressive displays. Females are divided according to age. Older ones are considered the main ones, they eat first, and produce an order of magnitude more offspring. The rest do not have such privileges, but are still in the hierarchy one step above the males.

Males also have a certain division based on similar characteristics. Dominant males have greater access to females, but they all worship the “women” of the pack. Due to this harsh state of affairs, some males often move to other flocks to breed.

This is interesting! Spotted hyenas have a complex greeting ritual involving sniffing and licking each other's genitals. Spotted hyena raises for dating hind paw so that another individual can sniff it. These highly socialized mammals are masters of the most complex social structure primates.

Different clans can wage war against each other in the struggle for territory. Rivalry among spotted hyenas is expressed in a harsh form. They behave differently with their own children. The cubs are born in a communal den. Siblings of the same sex will fight for dominance, biting each other and sometimes inflicting fatal wounds. The winner will dominate the rest of the offspring until he dies. Offspring of the opposite sex do not compete with each other.

How long does a spotted hyena live?

In its natural habitat, the spotted hyena lives for about 25 years; in captivity it can live up to forty.

Range, habitats

Spotted hyena individuals choose savannas as their habitat, which are rich in animals included in their favorite diet. They can also be found in semi-deserts, open forests, dense dry forests, and mountain forests up to 4000m in height. They avoid thick tropical forests and deserts. You can meet them in Africa from the Cape of Good Hope to the Sahara.

Spotted hyena diet

The main food of the spotted hyena is meat.. Previously, it was believed that their diet consisted only of carrion - the remains of animals underfed by other predators. This is far from true; spotted hyenas are primarily hunters. They get about 90% of their food by hunting. Hyenas go fishing alone or as part of a pack led by a female leader. They most often hunt large herbivores. For example, gazelles, buffalos, zebras, wild boars, giraffes, rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses. They can also feed on small game, livestock and carrion.

This is interesting! Despite well-developed hunting skills, they are not picky eaters. These animals will not disdain even a rotten elephant. Hyenas have become the dominant predator in Africa.

Spotted hyenas primarily hunt at night, but are sometimes active during the day. They travel a lot in search of prey. The spotted hyena can reach speeds of about 65 kilometers per hour, which gives it the ability to keep up with a herd of antelope or other animals and capture its prey. A powerful bite helps a hyena overcome a large animal. A single bite to the neck can sever major blood vessels in the victim. After capture, other animals in the pack help gut the prey. Males and females may fight over food. As a rule, the female wins the fight.

The powerful jaws of the spotted hyena can even cope with the thick femur of a large animal. The stomach also digests everything that enters it, from horns to hooves. For this reason, this animal's stool is often white. If the prey is too large, the hyena may hide some of it for later.

Natural enemies

Spotted hyenas are at odds with. This is almost their only and constant enemy. Of the total deaths of spotted hyenas, 50% die from the fangs of a lion. Often it is a matter of protecting one's own borders, sharing food and water. This is how it happened in nature. Spotted hyenas will kill lions, and lions will kill spotted hyenas. During the dry season, drought or famine, lions and hyenas are always at war with each other over territory.

This is interesting! The fight between hyenas and lions is tough. It often happens that hyenas attack defenseless lion cubs or old individuals, for which they are attacked in return.

In the struggle for food and primacy, victory goes to the group of animals whose numbers predominate. Also, spotted hyenas, like any other animal, can be exterminated by humans.

African savannas are very unpredictable. In them you can find both ferocious predators and small fluffy jerboas. One of the most interesting animals in this area is the hyena. This species has infested the entire area of ​​the African valleys.

Where do hyenas live?

African animals include a mammal that inspires fear in many safari visitors. Open area - perfect place for the settlement of a pack of hyenas.

It is noteworthy that these animals choose places with a cool climate, and like dogs, they mark the territory on which they build their home. In addition, this representative of the cat family puts a representative from the pack on guard when roosting for the night, to protect the family.

The hyena is mistakenly classified as a member of the canine family. In fact, it belongs to the cat family.

The hyena is largely a nocturnal animal. During the day, the flocks sleep off from night hunts or transitions. Although they do not like to change their territory too much, they occasionally have to do this to find places with a lot of food.

There is a misconception that this mammal is a dangerous animal. This opinion is based on the fact that they kill innocents and also feed on carrion. In fact, in nature there are much more dangerous creatures, and thanks to human skills to tame and train, even domestic hyenas are found. At the same time, in their home environment they become best friend. If an animal comes to a meeting and begins to trust a person, then in terms of devotion it is in no way inferior to an ordinary dog.

Nature has endowed the nimble predator with abilities that seem surprising at first glance. For example, they are capable of producing peculiar sounds. With a devilish laugh, the hyena notifies its family of its discovery. large quantity food. But animals such as lions have learned to recognize these urges. Often lions take food from hyenas. A pack of predators is unable to fight such a serious opponent and retreats. And they have no choice but to eat up the leftovers or look for a new place for lunch.

In addition, nature endowed the ends of the animal’s paws with glands. By the specific smell of the secretion produced, the “hunters” learned to identify individuals of their flock. This allows them to identify and scare away an intruder.

The hyena is not a terrible animal. In fact, they perform a very important role by eating carrion - they act as orderlies. At the same time, hunting other animals ensures the equality of the animal world.

Matriarchy reigns in a pack of predators. The hierarchy is built according to the following principles:

• The older females are the most important. They are given the greatest privileges: to rest in the coolest place in the hole, to be the first to taste lunch. In turn, they bear and raise the largest number of offspring.
• Low class females. They follow the elders, that is, they start eating in the second place and rest away from the elders.
• Males. They belong to the lowest class.

Types of hyenas

In nature, there are the following types of hyenas:

• spotted;
• striped;
• brown;
• aardwolf;
• African.

It is worth noting that the largest of this cat family is the African cat. In third place is the spotted one.

In addition to ordinary hyenas, animals such as hyena dogs live in the vastness of Africa. Between these species, when meeting, there are always massacres for territory. The victory goes to the family in which large quantity animals. In addition to dog hyenas, there are quite a few other enemies in the wild. The most feared is the lion.

The spotted hyena resembles a large dog like no other. She has a powerful and wide head, her eyes are not deep set. The ears are rounded and not large. The fur is much shorter than that of other species. This predator loses 50 percent as it ages coat. Has a tail of impressive size. Another distinctive feature is the presence of coarse long hair from the withers to the tail. Visually, this fur forms a mane.

This representative has very sharp and strong teeth. It is believed that the jaw of this species is one of the strongest among all mammals. The animal is capable of reaching speeds of up to 65 km/h. If you look at him in profile, you may notice a slight hump on his back.

Outwardly, it is quite difficult to distinguish a female from a male. No matter how strange it may sound, their organs are very similar. It is possible to accurately determine the sex only of a lactating female. She has a clearly visible pair of nipples, which are located near her hind legs.

The spotted mammal can have a variety of colors. It varies from light sand to brown. Distinctive feature are rounded dark spots all over the body. The tail of the predator is fluffy and decorated with dark rings, the tip is black.

This species makes more than 11 sounds, several of them prolonged. If you hear the howl of this hyena from afar, you can confuse it with loud laughter.

The spotted hyena is the largest representative of its family. Body length ranges from 100 to 166 centimeters, and average weight 75 kilograms.

In nature, this species lives for about 20-25 years.

The striped hyena is a fairly large subspecies of the family, the weight of an adult individual is about 60 kilograms. Males are always much larger than females. The upper part is covered with hard long hair, which form the mane. The remaining hair barely grows 7 centimeters. There are pronounced stripes throughout the body. Hence the name of the subspecies.

Their paws are very curved, with the front ones being longer than the back ones. If you see this predator from afar, you might think that it is injured.

The body of this representative is not massive. The neck is short but thick. The head is large and heavy lower jaw. The ears are pointed towards the top.

Basically, this species only growls and howls. They make virtually no other sounds.

The spotted hyena feeds mainly on carrion. Although in the first years of life it loves to eat vegetation.

In captivity, this species lives for about 40 years.

Externally brown hyena resembles an ordinary medium-sized dog. In this species, the body is raised at the withers and externally, you can see a small hump. The head is large and set on a thick neck. Their ears are the largest compared to individuals of other subspecies. The legs are curved, but quite strong. The tail is large and shaggy.

The brown hyena is one of the smallest representatives of the family. Its weight is about 35 kilograms, although its body length is about 70 centimeters.

There is little hair on the body of this individual. All wool is very hard and dark brown in color. Sometimes you can meet a representative with gray tint. The jaw is equipped with sharp teeth that can easily crush even bones.

Interesting feature is that with age this predator turns gray.

Males and females are very similar. Externally, it is almost impossible to find distinctive features. The only peculiarity is the sounds made and the attitude in the pack. If the female makes a sound, then the rest of the family gathers around her. If a male howls, it goes unnoticed.

In nature, it lives for about 20 years.

The aardwolf is a hyena that lives in Africa. Outwardly similar to the striped hyena, but it is difficult to confuse them. The aardwolf weighs up to 14 kilograms and the body length without tail is about 55 centimeters. This is the only species in which sexual dimorphism is not observed. Externally, it is easy to distinguish a female from a male.

The muzzle of this species of hyena is similar to that of a dog, but it is very small, one might even say elongated. The paws are high and not massive. The coat is thick and not harsh. Inside there is soft, light-colored down. In case of danger, the aardwolf's mane stands on end. Thus, the individual warns the flock.

The hyena of this subspecies can have several colors. Color varies from sand to brown. Distinctive feature there are pronounced stripes throughout the body.

An interesting feature of the aardwolf is the presence of 5 fingers on the forelimbs.

The entire jaw is equipped with sharp teeth. The fangs are especially large and long. With them, a hyena can tear apart an enemy many times larger than itself.

The African hyena is a large predator. Her average weight is 70-80 kilograms. Outwardly it looks like a large dog, but with a small head. The muzzle is outwardly elongated, with 2 small round ears set on top. This hyena looks rather awkward.

The color is usually yellowish. The whole body is covered with dark spots. The fur reaches a length of 5-7 centimeters. Hair of increased rigidity grows from the withers to the tail. Externally, this hair forms a mane.

The front legs of this subspecies are longer than the hind legs, so it may appear that the hyena is limping.

This species mainly feeds on carrion, but can sometimes attack zebras and antelopes. The character is hot-tempered. It can even attack a person.

This species has pronounced sexual dimorphism. There are no external differences between females and males.

The only significant opponent African hyena is a lion.

Reproduction of hyenas in nature

To continue procreation and conceive cubs, the female hyena prepares for a year. Pre-mating of hyenas occurs once every two weeks. While the male reproductive organs are ready for fertilization in certain seasons.

The genital organs of a hyena are unique in their structure. An inexperienced person will not be able to distinguish between a female hyena in front of him and a male. In the female hyena, the clitoris, under which the scrotum is located, is identical to the male's penis. Mating of two individuals occurs by penetration of the penis through the clitoris into the genitourinary canal.

Male hyenas fight in front of the female to reproduce. The winner, lowering his head and tail, approaches the female, and with her permission, the offspring are conceived.

Hyena cubs

The first hyena cub is born one hundred and ten days after conception. At the same time, an animal can give birth to up to three puppies at a time. A representative of felines, in order to continue the family, sets up a separate hole.

Hyenas are born immediately with their eyes open and weighing about two kilograms. The creature feeds its offspring with breast milk for a year and a half.

The color of the cub is brown. With age, the color changes and becomes darker. An interesting feature in the life of a hyena is that children occupy the status in the pack that their parents held. Such a kind of legacy. The maximum age of hyenas is about twelve years.

What age the animal has reached can be determined based on its color. The darker the color, the older the animal. The main coat color is yellowish brown with dark gray spots like a leopard. The hyena's head is uniformly brown, but its muzzle is distinctly black. In addition, a burgundy tint is observed on the back of the head.

Hunting

To catch prey, nature has endowed hyenas with short hind legs and long front legs, which allows them to develop enormous speed and cover fairly long distances without stopping.

As a hunter, the animal is much superior in skill to lions. They hunt mainly at night, covering more than seventy kilometers. When hunting, the mammal simply exhausts its prey by running long distances. At the same time, frightening her with a devilish laugh, turning into a howl. When the victim is unable to escape, they bite her legs, thereby completely immobilizing her. They eat their prey alive, and not, like other hunters, pre-suffocate it.

Their hearing, smell and vision are actually high level. For example, they smell carrion at a distance of more than four kilometers.

What does a hyena eat?

The animal feeds mainly on animals it catches while hunting. Moreover, the size of the prey can be many times greater than the size of the hunter himself. Although such food provides the body with much more nutrients and useful substances, but the predator does not disdain and feast on carrion.

If the flock has not found animal food, then it goes looking for plant food. Individuals can eat juicy grass and even fruits with great pleasure. This way the hyena will never go hungry!

Oddly enough, but alone hyenas are very cowardly. Therefore, hyenas often hunt in packs, making them very difficult for another animal to defeat.

Hyenas have a unique digestive system. Thanks to it, these creatures easily digest bone, horns, hooves and wool. Within a day, the stomach of these animals is able to digest everything eaten.

Domestic hyena, how to keep a hyena at home?

If a person decides to have such an exotic animal as a hyena at home, then first you need to take care of safety. It is not recommended to have such an animal in an apartment, the best option will serve as a country house. In this case, it is necessary to build an enclosure with strong metal rods. When determining the location for the enclosure, it is necessary to take into account the hyenas' habitat. They like coolness, but not cold.

It is best to opt for a baby rather than an adult. Since the cubs are more amenable to training and have not yet had time to get used to the wild habitat. As mentioned earlier, hyenas easily make contact with humans, but only if they have gained trust. In order for a predator to recognize a person as a friend, it is not necessary to constantly keep it in an enclosure. Still, this is a wild animal and it needs freedom.

It is recommended to feed this cat dry food. Meat should be given very rarely and in small portions. It is worth noting that after taking meat food an animal, even one raised at home, instinctively becomes aggressive. Your pet should include vegetables and fruits in their diet as often as possible. They will fill the body with vitamins and minerals and make the coat thicker.

It is necessary to treat such a pet with affection and love, and then he will reciprocate.

Considering all the diversity of African flora and fauna, hyenas do not stand out in their appearance. But it’s worth paying attention to a few facts:

• Females of this family are the most caring mothers of all predators. All the prey first goes to the kids, and then the adults eat;
• By their nature, single individuals are timid and can attach themselves to stronger predators;

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 is no secret that no other animal causes such hostility among people as the hyena. Appearance and behavior - all this does not evoke positive emotions. An interesting fact is that for a long time these animals were considered almost the most mysterious due to their lack of knowledge. Trivial ignorance of many facts about the way of life of hyenas led to people believing the most incredible rumors about these creatures, based on fear.

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 were connected 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 deeply as possible so that the creatures could not return and take revenge.

The mystical horror of these animals made many people believe that medicines prepared from the organs of hyenas have incredible power.

Description of the spotted hyena

Hyenas belong to the suborder of cats. They were once considered relatives of dogs, but recently scientists have come to the conclusion that this classification not true. Therefore, at present, hyenas are annexed to the cat family. Nevertheless, the spotted hyena looks very much like a dog. The animal is quite large in size, the length of the body including 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 crooked hind limbs that are shorter than their front limbs, giving them a sloping back. The front paws have five toes, while the hind paws have only four. There are convex pads under the fingers, on which the main emphasis is placed when running and walking.

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

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

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

Animal voice

The spotted hyena, like other representatives of this family, makes a lot of sounds. Their language is so diverse that they can communicate perfectly with their relatives. Probably every reader knows that these animals emit a cry that is characteristic only of them, which is more reminiscent of 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 a kind of creepy laughter. As a result, we later hear this sound as an unpleasant laugh.

Animals use their voice to control the order of their meals. The main female of the flock reports that she has already eaten, and representatives of the next hierarchy can begin the meal. It is 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 communicate with each other through laughter. And during a fight for prey, they growl, “giggle” and howl. But squealing and groaning is a sign of greeting.

A flock of animals quickly responds to sound signals only from females, but does not respond to the calls of males at all or responds late. Grunting sounds and low growls are a manifestation of the predator's aggression. But the hyena “laughs” in case of danger. Before attacking the victim, the animal growls loudly and threateningly. Hyenas are afraid of lions, and therefore warn their brothers about the approaching enemy by growling. In general, predators have sounds in their arsenal for all occasions.

Hierarchy of the pack

The herd of spotted hyenas (photos are given in the article) is characterized by a clear hierarchy. Their clans live in matriarchal conditions. Females dominate males and occupy a higher position in society. In addition, the flock also has additional divisions into levels. Adults are considered 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 submissiveness to the opposite sex. To reproduce, males often join other flocks.

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

Habitat

The spotted hyena's habitat is quite wide. Animals are found in semi-desert, desert and foothill regions of Africa, as well as in 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, and in the Ngorongoro crater. In the eastern regions of Sudan and Ethiopia, hyenas are found even at altitudes of more than 4,000 above sea level.

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

What do predators eat?

The main diet for carnivores is meat. For a long time, people believed that hyenas only scavenge, taking prey from other predators. But recent studies have proven that animals obtain 90% of all food on their own by hunting.

Hyenas are not particularly picky about their diet, so they do not disdain any meat that comes their way. They don’t care what they eat: it could be a rotten elephant carcass or a live antelope. Of course, most of their diet consists of ungulates. Since predators lead a school life, they all hunt together. This makes it easier for them to deal with the victim, although a hyena alone can also catch a small gazelle or antelope.

Lifestyle of the spotted hyena

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

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

It’s not for nothing that hyenas are called the main scavengers. 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 the prey from them. An adult lion can easily disperse an entire flock and appropriate all the meat for itself.

How do individuals reproduce?

The first experts who studied hyenas mistakenly considered them hermaphrodites. Such conclusions were based on the fact that animals have a unique structure of the reproductive system. This is what led to such a deep misconception. Female spotted hyenas and males have incredibly similar genitals. In the first few years of their life, it is generally impossible to determine gender. And only in the sixties of the twentieth century, scientists proved that predators have a specific sex, 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 females are ready to mate. If the female is favorable, the male bows his head low, thus expressing submission. He must receive approval, otherwise the female may choose a representative of another tribe. This happens quite often.

The appearance of babies

Pregnancy lasts about four months. The offspring are born in the burrow. As a rule, no more than three babies are born. Cubs are born with a well-developed jaw, they see and hear. Their weight ranges from 1 to 1.6 kilograms. If a female has two girls in one litter, then a fierce fight immediately begins between them. After three months, 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 do not worry at all that their children will be hungry. At three months of age, young animals already eat meat. Hyenas become adults by the age of two years.

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

Enemies of hyenas

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. Predators cannot cope with a pack of hyenas. 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, prejudice against these animals led to their massive extermination. This caused a decrease in the number of spotted hyenas on earth. Currently, hyenas are protected by almost all states in whose territory they live.

Are hyenas beneficial?

Despite the general unkind attitude towards predators, they still bring benefits. Hyenas are the main helpers who maintain the shroud ecosystem in normal condition. It’s not for nothing that they are also called natural “orderlies.” In addition, predators annually destroy up to 12% of wildebeest, preventing their population from growing uncontrollably. As a rule, sick and old animals fall into the claws of hyenas, so it is believed that they clear the territory 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.

We want to give you some amazing facts about these unusual animals:

1. Predators greet each other just like dogs do. It was this fact that at one time was the reason why hyenas were classified as dogs.
2. In Ancient Egypt, such predators were domesticated. They were bred in order to later be used as food.
3. Young hyenas are born with open eyes, unlike all other animals. The cubs live in the den only for up to a year, after which they begin to hunt with their mother.
4. Female hyenas have higher levels of testosterone (male hormone) compared to males. Perhaps this is the reason that matriarchy reigns in the tribe.
5. Hyenas very often steal food from other carnivores. Their neighbors don't like this behavior.
6. Despite the fact that the predator is not very large, the animal is a threat to the savannas. Developed jaws allow them to attack the victim, clinging to it with a death grip. Hyenas never kill their prey, but devour it alive as they move. Their stomach is designed in such a way that it can digest any food, even bones and skin.
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 lion. And sometimes old, weakened lions can be attacked by them.
9. IN folklore In many countries, hyenas have become a real symbol of betrayal, greed, deceit and baseness. African legends attribute all sorts of terrible qualities to animals. However, there is no scientific evidence that hyenas attack people. Although a driven animal is certainly capable of biting a person. Most likely, people’s consciousness is influenced by the stereotype of an animal that has been formed over centuries, whose inexplicable behavior has frightened people at all times. And what we don’t understand causes fear.
10. In eastern Africa there are tribes that revere the predator. They believe that hyenas are messengers of the Sun who are sent to Earth to warm it. And such a people as the Vaniki still revere the predator more than their own leader. And the death of an animal is an incredible loss for them.

Instead of an afterword

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