Hyenas: Africa’s Most Obnoxious Carnivores
Introduction:
They are one of nature’s most misunderstood animals and are highly unique in their own regard. They possess advanced social behaviour and live in packs, possessing powerful jaws which are second to none. Because of their extravagant traits, there are numerous myths regarding hyenas. Most people fail to understand that hyenas are not mere scavengers; rather, they are among the most sophisticated hunters capable of eating prey significantly larger than themselves. The family Hyaenidae contains four species of them: spotted, striped, brown, and aardwolf. Each type of hyena is uniquely different from one another and is able to adapt to the varying climates across Africa and Asia.
Amazing Facts:
- Built in Dangers: One of the most astonishing features of the Spotted them is their ability to crush bones without putting in any effort. This is particularly aided by their strong jaws which are second to very few.
- Having no bounds: They are magnificently social animals. They possess an intricate structure, being able to build clans with over 80 members.
- Controlled by Women: Female hyenas dominate over the males in the clan.
- Diet Variety: They are known for scavenging; however, their primary method of acquiring food is hunting, with around 95 to 98 percent of their diet depending on it.
- Specialised Sounds: They are capable of producing several vocal sounds, including a ‘laugh,’ which is meant to convey excitement or submission.
- Effective Scavengers: They devour almost everything in a carcass, including bones, making them crucial to the health of the environment.
- Strong Bonds: The clans that make up their social structure have deep relationships that enable them to survive.
- Fast Sprinters: They can reach a maximum speed of 60 kilometres per hour or 37 miles per hour while running.
Habitat and Diet:
Habitat:
They are known to be highly adaptable; hence, they can be found in a variety of places.
- Savannas and Grassland: Open surface assures sufficient hunting and scavenging.
- Deserts and Semiideserts: Stripe-hyenas do well in arid environments.
- Woodlands and Forests: Areas with brown hyenas are often densely vegetated.
- Mountainous Regions: They can survive in areas with high altitudes of up to 4000 meters (13000 feet) above sea level.
Diet:
These scavengers are omnivores, indicating that they have a diverse range of food. They most commonly hunt gazelles, wildebeests, Zebras, and other small mammals.
- Carrion: Any leftover remains from predator meals are devoured by them as they scavenge for every single morsel, bones, and hooves included.
- Fruits and Vegetables: Certain species, such as the aardwolf, consume insects and other plant materials.
Appearence:
First things first, They have cannibalistic tendencies and other behaviours that are unique to other carnivores, which is how they set themselves apart.
Size and Shape:
- Weighing 190 pounds, the largest species is known as the spotted hyena.
- The form of them is somewhat slouched; they have shorter back legs than front legs. This is why the back of their body is sloped.
- Brown and striped hyenas are somewhat small, while the aardwolf is the smallest so far.
Fur and markings:
- Spotted Hyena exhibits light fur with dark patches, while Striped Hyena is characterised by a greyish coat with black lines.
- The other types of them follow the trend set by Brown Hyena, which wears shaggy dark brown fur.
Unique Features:
- They are able to hear and see quite well thanks to their large, rounded ears.
- With great neck and shoulder muscles to back them, a hyena can easily rip apart their prey.
- In addition to the strong jaws, their specialised teeth are designed to crush bones as well as consume them.
Types/Subspecies of Hyena:
Every species of them contains traits that are unique to it. Currently, there are 4 distinct species of them.
Spotted Hyena or Crocuta crocuta:
- This variety is common in the sub-Saharan region of Africa.
- Perceived as the most socially organised in addition to being the most vocal of all geons.
Striped Hyena or Hyaena:
- This species is common in North & Eastern Africa, the Middle Eastern Regions, & even India.
- This kind of hyena tends to be known as a one-man army due to its bulkier size and relatively independent existence compared to the Spotted Hyenas.
Brown Hyena Parahyaena Brunnea:
- This species is common in the southern part of Africa.
- These tend to have a shaggy coat cover their entire body and are also known for habitually scavenging.
Aardwolf or Proteles Cristata
- This type scavenges for termites.
- Located in southern and eastern Africa.
Predators and threats:
Natural Predators:
- They have very few natural predators, but Lions and other large carnivores at times hunt them.
- They, on the other hand, make fun of weaker animals.
- The pups are more susceptible and can be preyed on by Leopards, wild dogs, and in some cases even eagles.
Threats:
Due to expansion of habitation and urbanisation, they, like many other animals, have undergone drastic changes in their numbers.
- Hunting: In a similar manner to other animals, they are also hunted for fur, which results in extremely rough operations to bend limbs into a contortion of crude positions.
- Retaliation: Most farmers, while tending to their farms, will seek out and kill hyenas to protect their livestock.
- Road accidents: They are commonly killed by vehicles that travel on roads built across their habitats.
Mating and Reproduction:
Fascinating aspects of animal reproductive behaviour include:
- Mating: Female hyenas have a very strange body form because of a pseudo-penis, which hinders not only fertilisation but also delivery.
- Gestation: They possess one-of-a-kind gestation periods that span 110 days in total.
- Cubs: A female hyena is known to deliver 2-3 nestling pups that are used for shelter.
Movies featuring Hyena:
- The Lion King (2019): In this live-action remake, they are reimagined as more menacing characters, led by Shenzi, adding a darker tone to their role in the narrative.
- The Ghost and the Darkness (1996): Set in colonial Africa, they are part of the wildlife depicted in this suspenseful tale about managing lions.
- Prey (2007): A thriller where hyenas, along with other African predators, contribute to the peril faced by a family stranded in the wilderness.
- Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): While not literal hyenas, the War Boys exhibit hyena-like behaviour, with wild laughter and feral traits symbolising chaos.
How would you pronounce it?
- English: Hyena (Hy-ee-nuh)
- Spanish: Hiena (Yeh-nah)
- French: Hyène (Ee-en)
- Zulu: Impisi (Eem-pee-see)
- Swahili: Fisi (Fee-see)
FAQs:
Q: Which would be more characteristic of them: scavenger or hunter?
A: A great deal of their reputation comes from vulturing; a spotted hyena, however, would need to stalk her prey ~95% of the time.
Q: For what purpose does the server laugh?
A: Their laugh functions as a signal that highlights the emotion of exuberance, submission, or distress.
Q: What is their average lifecycle?
A: Their lifespan is usually estimated to be around 20 years in the wild and up to 30 if kept in captivity.
Q: Which family do they belong to?
A: Although they belong to the cat family, they do sit in their own anatomical family called Hyaenidae.
Q: How have hyenas helped the ecosystem in any way?
A: They are scavengers that consume virtually the entire corpse. Therefore, they are effective at disease control.
