Hyaenas (sometimesHyenas) aremammals. They are thefamilyHyaenidae, in theorderCarnivora. They live inAfrica, and in west and southAsia. In the past they had a much wider distribution. Now there are two subfamilies with fourspecies.
With only four species, it is the fourth-smallest family in the Carnivora, and one of the smallest in the classMammalia.[1] Despite their low diversity, hyenas are unique and vital components to mostAfrican and someAsian ecosystems.[2]
Hyaena walk much likebears because their front legs are longer than their back. Except for theaardwolf, hyaenas are known to have one of the world's strongest bites. Its function is to crush bone.
Convergent evolution has taken place. Both large hyaenas and canids are non-climbing,running hunters which catch prey with their teeth rather than claws. Both eat food quickly and may store it. Their calloused feet have large, blunt, non-retractable nails, good for running and making sharp turns. However, the hyaenas' grooming, scent marking, defecating habits, mating, and parental behaviour are similar to the behaviour of other feliforms.[3] Spotted hyenas are matriarchal. This means that females dominate and males are inferior.[4]
Spotted hyaenas were long said to be cowardlyscavengers, but they kill as much as 95% of the food they eat.[5] They can drive offleopards orlionesses from their kills. Hyenas are mostlynocturnal animals, but may leave their lairs in the early morning. Except for the very social spotted hyaena, hyenas are generally notgregarious animals, though striped and brown hyaenas may live in family groups and come together at kills.[1]
Spotted hyaenas are intelligent creatures. They work together well and are cooperative. They have strategic hunting methods and work to steal and protect food it from other predators. Their main targets arezebra andwildebeest. Their main rival is the lion. Whether spotted hyaenas do or do not chase lions off their kills is mostly a matter of numbers.
↑1.01.1Rosevear D.R. 1974.The carnivores of West Africa. London: British Museum (Natural History), p341–4.ISBN0565007238
↑Mills, Gus & Hofer, Heribert 1998.Hyaenas: status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Hyena Specialist Group.ISBN2-8317-0442-1
↑Kruuk, Hans 1972.The spotted hyena: a study of predation and social behavior. University of California Press, p274.
↑Holekamp, Kay E., and Laura Smale. "Dispersal status influences hormones and behavior in the male spotted hyena." Hormones and Behavior 33.3 (1998): 205-216
