Understanding the Hyena: African Wildlife & Behaviour

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Hyenas, scientifically classified as hyaenas, are fascinating feliform carnivorous mammals that belong to the family Hyaenidae. This family comprises only four extant species, making it the fifth-smallest family within the larger order Carnivora and one of the smallest families in the entire class Mammalia. Despite their limited variety, hyenas play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of most African ecosystems. 

These remarkable creatures are not just scavengers, as they are often mischaracterized; their complex social structures, hunting strategies, and vocal communications showcase their adaptability and intelligence.

 Hyenas are highly social animals, often living in clans that can range from a few individuals to over 80 members, depending on the species. Their unique behaviour and ecological contributions, such as scavenging carcasses and controlling prey populations, highlight their importance in the food web, ensuring the health and sustainability of their habitats.

Spotted hyena on the wild

Appearance of the Hyena

Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) inhabit regions south of the Sahara Desert, largely avoiding dense rainforest areas. These fascinating mammals exhibit a distinctive ginger-coloured coat adorned with a unique pattern of dark spots, much like a fingerprint, which varies from individual to individual. Females of the species are notably larger and more robust than their male counterparts, showcasing a remarkable sexual dimorphism that is not often observed in other carnivorous mammals.

Hyenas possess coarse fur that typically displays a range of colors, including shades of gray, brown, and yellowish hues, contributing to their adaptability in various habitats. Their physical characteristics include short, rounded ears that provide acute hearing—essential for hunting and communication—as well as small, tufted tails that add to their expressive body language. Each foot features four sturdy toes, adapted for running and enduring the diverse terrains they traverse.

In terms of size, spotted hyenas are impressive; they can weigh up to 82 kg (approximately 180 pounds) and reach lengths of nearly 2 meters (about 6.6 feet) from snout to tail. At the shoulder, they typically stand around 1 meter tall, making them one of the largest members of the hyena family. Their robust build, combined with powerful jaws and keen senses, makes them highly effective predators and scavengers in their ecosystems.

a spotted hyena in africa

Their diet

Hyenas are remarkably adaptable foragers, exhibiting a broad diet that encompasses a wide variety of food sources. They do not limit themselves to specific prey but will consume animals of various types and sizes, making them highly opportunistic scavengers and hunters. Their diet includes not only fresh kills but also carrion—the remains of animals that have died from natural causes or have been scavenged by other predators. Additionally, hyenas are known to consume bones, demonstrating their unique ability to break down and digest these tough, mineral-rich materials. 

 

Their powerful jaws are one of their most impressive features, being among the strongest relative to the body size of any mammal. This strength allows them to crush bone with relative ease, enabling them to extract nutrients that many other carnivores cannot access. Hyenas are also known to ingest vegetable matter on occasion, showcasing their flexible feeding habits. Furthermore, they will eat other animal droppings, a practice known as coprophagy, particularly in a resource-scarce environment. Their specialized jaws and robust digestive systems equip them to process challenging food items, allowing them to thrive in a range of habitats and contributing to their role as important scavengers in their ecosystems.

 

How does the hyena hunt?

Hyenas are extraordinary hunters, renowned for their cunning strategies and remarkable versatility in capturing prey. They utilize a variety of hunting techniques, blending relentless chases with stealthy stalking, and demonstrating effective teamwork to heighten their chances of a successful hunt. Typically operating in tightly-knit packs, these social animals skillfully coordinate their actions to herd and exhaust their intended target, displaying exceptional stamina and a complex social structure.

This collaborative hunting style enables them to confront not only smaller animals but also larger and more formidable prey, cementing their reputation as one of the most effective carnivores in their ecosystems. Their sharp intelligence and ability to adapt to various environments further enhance their hunting capabilities, allowing them to thrive in a wide range of habitats, from arid savannas to open grasslands. With their keen senses and strategic minds, hyenas continue to impress as one of nature’s most successful predators.

hyenas feeding

Where to spot them

Hyenas are fascinating creatures that can be found in various regions across Africa. Notable countries where you might encounter them include Kenya, where they roam the Maasai Mara, Tanzania, particularly in the Serengeti National Park, Botswana with its diverse ecosystems, Namibia known for its arid landscapes, Zambia boasting rich wildlife-rich reserves, and South Africa, where they inhabit areas like Kruger National Park. These regions offer a mix of savanna, grassland, and forest habitats, providing ideal conditions for hyenas to thrive.

Fun Facts about Hyenas

  • Hyenas are social animals that live in groups called clans, which can have up to 100 members. They are known for their bravery and are infamous for stealing food from other animals, including lions, which can be quite dangerous. 
  • While hyenas are often seen as scavengers, they are also skilled hunters who frequently work together in groups to catch larger prey. Their powerful jaws enable them to eat animals like wildebeests and zebras. 
  • Interestingly, hyenas are more closely related to mongooses and cats than to dogs. They belong to the family of feliform carnivores, which includes cats, civets, and mongooses. 
  • There are four main species of hyenas: the brown hyena, the striped hyena, the spotted hyena, and the aardwolf. Aardwolves were once considered part of a separate family but are now recognized as members of the hyena family. 
  • One unique aspect of female hyenas is that their reproductive organs closely resemble those of males, which can make it challenging to distinguish between the sexes.
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