am still wondering the behaviors of Hyena, very complicated. 3. Non-related males and females will mate after a courtship that can last several days. A spotted hyena can eat up to one third of its body weight at one meal. Hyenas have an average lifespan of 12 years, but they can live up to 25 years. They can run at a top speed of 60 kilometers per hour and mostly hunt wildebeest and antelopes but they also hunt birds, lizards and snakes. As a result, spotted hyena societies are matriarchal. The mood of a spotted hyena can be understood from its different postures and its tail. They are both hunters and scavengers (they eat carrions). While hyenas are most commonly found in Africa, they are also native to Asia. © 2020 | Facts Legend | A Unit of Aká¹£a Ventures. Did you know that spotted hyenas have acute sense of hearing? 18. Spotted hyenas are the largest of all hyenas that live today. In some cultures, hyenas are thought to influence people’s spirits, rob graves, and steal livestock and children. Fun facts about the Spotted Hyena! A hyena’s heart is twice as large as that of similar-sized mammals. 9. 7. The largest are spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) with 1.2 to 1.8 meters (4 to 5.9 feet) in body length, and have a shoulder height of 77 to 81 centimeters (2.5 to 2.6 feet). 1. The physical characteristics of spotted hyenas include – not so prominent mane, rounded ears, fewer nipples, spotted pelt and dual purposed dentition. ; Hyenas tend to be very clever at building stocks of food, and waste no time in cleaning up their meals. … Spotted hyenas, unlike other species of hyenas are gregarious animals. The center of clan activity is the den, where the cubs are raised, and individuals meet. Female spotted hyenas have pseudo-penis, making it difficult to distinguish between a male spotted hyena and a female spotted hyena. Hyenas are very social and live in groups called clans. Fact 1 Hyenas make a sound resembling laughter when they are excited which gave rise to the expressing ‘laughing hyena.” The cackling sounds that they make are so loud they can be heard from a distance of 3 miles. Hyenas have an average lifespan of 12 years, but they can live up to 25 years. Reputed to be cowardly and timid, the hyena can be bold and dangerous, attacking animals and humans. 6. The spotted hyenas are also known for warding off lionesses and leopards away from their kills. In other words, they are social animals. They hunt in smaller groups and use various techniques to attack different types of animals. For example: did you know that some insects' genitals explode during sex? We share five fun facts about hyenas to help kids learn about these beautiful animals. 11. 3. Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania leave their dead to be consumed by hyenas instead of burying them. Female hyenas have only two nipples, so litters of more than two have to fight to survive, leaving the weakest cubs to die of starvation. There are four members of the Hyaenidae family: the striped hyena, the “giggly” spotted hyena, the brown hyena, and the aardwolf (it’s a hyena, not a wolf). Instead, they are so unique that they have a family all their own, Hyaenidae. Hyena Facts - Facts About Hyenas - Please take a moment to Like, Subscribe, and Comment on this video! 10. 9. Their appearance, habits and sounds are already weird, but when it comes to sex, there is no more confusing creature than the spotted hyena. They have more testosterone than the male hyenas, they have more muscles, and they are about 30% bigger than their male counterparts. Spotted hyenas are extremely vocal animals. In case of spotted hyenas, females are larger than males and males are dominated by females. Well, whatever the reason, here are thirty facts you probably didn’t know about the number 30. Spotted hyenas are also known as laughing hyenas due to the pitch and frequency of the sounds they produce which resemble human laughter. Spotted hyenas mark their home area with their droppings and also using a strong-smelling substance from their anal glands. 20. 16. 12 Facts About Hyenas; Getting You There? The mating rituals of some animals are wonderfully bizarre. 2. Ah, sex. They have their own family, Hyaenidae, comprising four species: the spotted hyena, striped hyena, brown hyena, and the aardwolf, which isn’t a wolf but looks like one. Brown Hyenas – (Hyaena brunnea) is the second largest hyena, ranging from 130 to 160 centimetres and weighing 34 to 72.6 kilograms. The striped hyena is mentioned in the Bible. They have a bushy tail and big ears. Hyenas are not members of the dog or cat families. Aardwolves are solitary animals that gather only during mating season. A study done by Duke University showed that a captive pair of hyenas performed better at problem-solving and social cooperation than chimpanzees. Truth: Hyenas are neither. Not only are spotted hyena females larger, they are also more aggressive and are dominate in their clans. Hyenas are primarily nocturnal animals, but sometimes venture from their lairs in the early-morning. Spotted hyenas are mostly nocturnal by nature however; they often come out of their lairs during early-morning hours. Your email address will not be published. 2. They are four types of hyenas found, categories are spotted, brown, striped, and aardwolf. Wait a minute! [45] The striped hyena is primarily a scavenger, though it will also attack and kill any animals it can overcome, [39] and will supplement its diet with fruit. 4. Spotted hyenas live in large groups known as clans. I think that limiting to the use of just “hyena” as term can be a little misleading, since there are multiple species of hyenas, including the aardwolf the striped hyena and then everyone’s favorite: The spotted hyena. The other members of this family are the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), the brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea) and the aardwolf (Proteles cristata). Spotted hyenas are actually omnivores and they eat even vegetable matter. Hyenas do not regurgitate food for their young and male spotted hyenas play no part in raising their cubs, though male striped hyenas do so. 22. How They Look. They are primarily nocturnal, so make sure you go to one of Southern Africa’s game lodges to experience an evening game drive to spot them.. Spotted hyenas “laugh” as a form of communication to relay excitement or frustration. They have a powerful build with shoulders higher than hind legs. Hyenas live in territorial and large clans that can consist of up to 80 members. Keep coming back and if you need information on specific topics covered by our website, feel free to request us through the ‘New facts request page’. Birds do it, bees do it. Spotted hyenas can run up to 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour. In fact studies have shown that hyenas kill 66-90% of what they eat and when it comes to the actual hunt they are extremely versatile and successful hunters. i would like to know more about Hyena auto/self cannibalism. But they have one of the most powerful bite forces. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Even though hyenas possess dog-like features they are more closely related to cats, and closer still to civets and mongooses. Hyenas are large, doglike carnivores. They even make sounds that sound like human laughter. The smallest are aardwolves (Proteles cristata) with length ranges from 85 to 105 centimeters (33 to 41 inches) — and about one-fourth of that is the tail. Until then, some adult hyena will babysit the cubs. The home area of each clan includes a central den which is the center of all activities. Here are 10 facts that you most likely never knew about this wily, intelligent creature: Spotted hyenas are very social and live in groups called clans. nice page. The hyena is well known for its cackling laugh-like scream, which the hyena is believed to use in order to alert other hyenas of a source of food. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Spotted hyenas may kill as many as 95% of the animals they eat, while striped hyenas and brown hyenas are largely scavengers. How exactly do they do it? They make a wide range of sounds to communicate with their clan members. 28. There are four distinct species of hyenas – the aardwolf, the brown hyena, the stripped hyena and the spotted hyena. Cubs begin to eat meat from kills near the den at about 5 months, but they are suckled for as long as 12 to 18 months, an unusually long time for carnivores. The mongoose and the meerkat are the hyena’s closest relatives. 24. Hyenas are commonly viewed as frightening and worthy of contempt, and are associated with witchcraft, because their body parts are used as ingredients in traditional medicine. Hyenas have very powerful jaws and strong teeth. Cubs are always raised in dens. This vocalization can often be heard during a hunt. They are the spotted, brown, and striped hyenas. Cubs are born with open eyes. 4. Spotted hyenas require very little water to survive despite the fact that they eat quite a lot of dry bones. 30 Breathtaking Beagle Facts You Didn’t Know! They mark and patrol their territories by depositing a strong-smelling substance produced by the anal glands on stalks of grass along the boundaries. 4. 12. 25. However, according to scientists, this species actually may have originated in Asia and used to thrive throughout Europe for about a million years but their Asian and European habitat disappeared with the end of Late Pleistocene age of the Pleistocene Epoch. 1. Fact 2 These animals thrive in forests, grasslands, savannas, woodlands and high latitudes. Enjoy these animal facts and learn about hyenas! They generally forage alone and are … They steal each other’s food and kill off the young of their enemies. Echa un vistazo a continuación para ver 28 datos más interesantes y divertidos sobre las hienas. Spotted Hyenas are social animals and live in groups called clans, which can have up to 80 members. 30 Purrtastic Persian Cat Facts You Should Know. Striped hyenas almost always feed on dead animals however spotted hyenas hunt live animals. They weigh from 17.6 to 30.8 lbs. Even more amazing is that during the study, the hyenas solved all the problems in silence, using only non-verbal signals for communication. They weigh 40 to 86 kilograms (88 to 190 pounds). Hyenas mark their territory with white droppings produced in the anal gland. When it comes to hunting, spotted hyena species uses a special hunting technique. Clans can have up to 80 members; Once thought to be solitary, striped hyenas actually live in small groups. Unusually high testosterone levels in female spotted hyenas create not only larger, stronger and more aggressive girls, but also transform the female sex organs. One clan may consist of up to 80 hyenas. Basically these postures are methods of communication. 5. If the tail is tucked between its legs and is flat against its belly, it usually means it is afraid and is about to flee. 13. One hyena will take the job of creating confusion in the herd of the animal they want to kill. The only dog-like hyena species to live today is the aardwolf. Hyenas usually bear litters of two to four cubs, which, unlike the other two species, are born with their eyes open. When the male hyena reaches sexual maturity at the age of two, he leaves home and goes to find a new group. All females rank higher than males in the clan. There are four distinct species of hyenas – the aardwolf, the brown hyena, the stripped hyena and the spotted hyena. Spotted hyenas are organized into territorial clans of related individuals. Las hienas son carnívoros medianos parecidos a perros. However, there were times when even humans became the food of the hyenas. This species is very territorial by nature. Hyenas feature prominently in the folklore and mythology of human cultures with which they are sympatric (two species or populations exist in the same geographic area). 15. 30 Solar System Facts Everyone Should Know. Females are larger, more muscular and definitely more aggressive than the males. We are glad to be able to help you Abby. Hyenas are, on the whole, very expressive animals – they use a variety of calls and body movements to express themselves – they are excellent at picking up on signals. HYENAS ARE SMARTER THAN CHIMPS. 26. Required fields are marked *. The pitch of the laughter can tell the age of a spotted hyena. I love this site. 60 Mind Blowing Earth Facts You Should Know. (8 to 14 kg). Female hyenas are generally the tougher of the two sexes. Clans can have up to 80 members, according to the National Wildlife Foundation. In fact, they live as monogamous pairs with their young. The dog-like hyenas are nearly extinct. There are basically two distinct types of hyenas – dog-like hyenas and bone-crushing hyenas. This leads to fierce competition between the two animals. Hyenas evolved in Eurasia around 22 million years ago. However, the brown and striped hyenas and aardwolves have male-dominated clans. While hyenas are most commonly found in Africa, they are also native to Asia. Large and reputed as timid and cowardly carnivores, hyenas are commonly found in Africa. For instance, ancient Egyptians used to capture and domesticate them and then feed them in plenty to fatten them and eventually feast on them. 2. This is because the females have three times as much testosterone in their bodies. They are larger than common cats and have elongated snouts with round, pointed ears that look like dog ears. However, they forage alone; Although often solitary in their habits, brown hyenas will form clans of up to 10 members; Aardwolves have often been mistaken for solitary animals. Social rank of a hyena can be found out using the notes frequency variation. The common laughter sounds include loud grunt-laughs, soft grunt-laughs and giggles. The size of an animal's frontal cortex is believed to be connected to its social intelligence, and hyenas have a frontal cortex on par with primates. As cursorial hunters, hyenas run down their prey to exhaustion, cruising at speeds of 37 mph (60 kph) for several miles. Si bien se parecen a los perros, pertenecen a su propia familia única, los Hyaenidae. They live in savannas, grasslands, sub-deserts, forests and mountains of Africa and Asia. Hyenas and lions often fight over the same territories and hunt the same prey. We use cookies to improve user experience and serve interest-based ads through our advertisement partner. Your email address will not be published. Hyenas use various sounds, postures and signals to communicate with each other. Spotted hyenas are known for their “laughs”, it makes human crazy. Hyenas are not members of the dog or cat families. Hyenas are one of the most popular animals to see when on safari. Spotted hyenas are famed scavengers and often dine on the leftovers of other predators. The Spotted Hyena can chase its prey reaching speeds of 37mph The Spotted Hyenas laugh resembles that of a human, and became popular during their appearance in Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ Although they have a close resemblance to a dog, Spotted Hyenas are actually closer in relation to cats! Spotted hyenas can live up to 25 years in captivity and can weigh anywhere between 110 and 190 pounds. 3. For male spotted hyenas, time of dispersal, mating opportunities and access to kills depends on their ability to dominate other male members of the clan. More facts about hyenas belonging to this specific species are discussed below. If you are approaching us for Sponsored Link or Sponsored Posting, here are a few things you need to keep in mind: — We ADD both no-follow and sponsored tags to links. 23. Spotted hyenas live in a matriarchal society. Spotted hyenas are capable of digesting skin, bones and wastes of other animals. The jaws and teeth of the hyena are so strong and powerful that they will eat every part of an animal carcass, including its bones. Hyenas are probably one of the smallest carnivorous mammals. 3. In fact, they belong to their own family the Hyaenidae. At around 2 years, the cubs are considered mature and ready to leave their mother. 8. I am using this website as a zoology report and I got an A+. Viven en sabanas, praderas, bosques, sub-desiertos y las montañas de África y Asia. The remaining three species are all bone-crushing hyenas. 29. Aardwolves are insectivores, and they mainly eat termites. 2) These amazing animals inhabit savannahs, grasslands, woodlands and forest edges across sub-Saharan Africa. Hyenas have 32 to 34 teeth which include conical premolars that are specifically designed to crack bones. Aardwolf eats termites. are very common. They have front legs that are longer than their back legs and really big ears. Hyenas are scavenger mammals meaning that the hyena tends to eat another animals kill, rather than the hyena actually catching its own food. Brown hyenas (Hyaena brunnea) are the second largest, ranging from 130 to 160 centimeters (51 to 63 inches) long and weighing 34 to 72.6 kilograms (75 to 160 pounds). In fact, striped hyenas are completely silent – they let their bodies do the talking! This makes the spotted hyena the only mammalian species that lacks external vaginal opening. Or that some fish can change gender?Intrigued? Though hyenas look like large dogs, they are actually more similar to cats like lions and tigers. Let us today learn 30 interesting spotted hyena facts and find out more about this interesting animal. In ancient Egypt hyenas were domesticated and even eaten! Spotted hyenas give birth to 2 to 4 cubs at a time. 30 Interesting Spotted Hyena facts. 3. Spotted hyena in specific is a native to Sub-Saharan Africa. 21. [46] 19. The size of an animal’s frontal cortex is believed to be connected to its social intelligence, and hyenas have a frontal cortex on par with primates. 1. A hanging tail for instance says that a hyena is walking or standing leisurely. Hyenas are large, dog-like, carnivores. They are nocturnal animals (hunt at night). In female-dominated spotted hyena clans, adult males are the lowest of the low. 3) The spotted hyena’s body can grow to almost 2m long, plus a dark, bushy tail measuring 25-30cm long. It is the largest among the three species of hyenas. This is a education website. For more videos about wildlife please subscribe :) Royalty free content brought from pond5.com and/or bigstockphoto.com Cubs thrive on their mothers’ milk for up to 18 months but they start eating meat by the age of 5 months from kills near their dens. The other hyenas will then pick up a weak or old animal and hunt it down and chase away the other animals. 9. Matting typically happens outside of the clan. There are three species of Hyena. 8. 17. The dog-like hyenas are nearly extinct. one day i left plastic bucket outside my tent in one of the protected area in Africa and during the morning i met hyena eating it (it had no any blood remains or any material which can attract hyena). 30. Despite their reputation of being cowardly animals, hyenas can become really aggressive and dangerous. Females are heavier than males, and can weigh up to 82kg. By using our website, you agree to the cookie and privacy policy of Facts Legend. Hyenas are featured in Disney’s animated features, such as Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp, Noah’s Ark, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and The Lion King. Related Post: 10 Amazing Animal Facts (Bat) 4. Female spotted hyenas are more muscular and more aggressive than their male counterparts. There are basically two distinct types of hyenas – dog-like hyenas and bone-crushing hyenas. They can hear predators hunting or feeding on carcass from a distance of up to 10 kilometers! Spotted hyenas have a reputation of being cowardly scavengers but interestingly enough, 95% of their meals actually come through hunting. With over 30 years of experience, Easy Travel are an award winning tour operator with extensive knowledge of the local wildlife in Tanzania. 14. — We don’t allow post or links that are not related to education. Cubs usually go out on scavenging expeditions with their mothers at the age of 1 year. One reason that many people assume hyenas are a type of dog is that they look something like dogs. Clan members meet in the central den. But these hardy beasts are also skilled hunters that will take down wildebeest or antelope. When it comes to hunting prey, spotted hyenas have the formula for success: Divide and conquer! I ma going to share if I can I am at school doing this. Hyenas are large carnivores, they look like large dogs. If the tail is straight, it is about to attack and if the tail is carried high on its back, it is usually excited. Spotted hyenas live in large groups called clans, which can include up to 80 hyenas. Despite their low diversity, hyenas are unique and vital components of most African ecosystems. Hyenas have been on Earth for 24 million years. Hyenas are large animals and can weigh up to 190 pounds, which is the size of a large grown up human. The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is 100 to 115 centimeters (39 to 45 inches) long and 66 to 75 centimeters (26 to 30 inches) tall from paw to shoulder.Their tails add another 30 to 40 centimeters (12 to 16 inches) and they weigh from 26 to 41 kilograms (57 to 90 pounds). Thank you for listening. Among hyenas, only the spotted and striped hyenas have been known to become man-eaters. Each clan defends its area from intruding clans. The hyena is Africa’s most common large carnivore. The number 30 is known as a Harshad number, or a number divisible by the sum of its digits. 27. One of the most amazing hyena facts is that they are almost impossible to sex. Through history, hyenas have been in close contact with humans. They live in savannas, grasslands, sub-deserts, forests and mountains of Africa and Asia. A polygon with 30 sides is a triacontagon. Though spotted hyenas are capable of digesting bones and skins, they fail to completely digest hooves, horns and hair of their prey. Fast whoops, groans, grunts, growls, yells etc. Hyenas are … Instead, they are so unique that they have a family all their own, Hyaenidae. In Bingo, the ball 30 is known as “Dirty Gertie, Blind 30”. Check out these fun facts about hyenas and what they’re really like. Their body built is vaguely bear-like.