Spotted Hyaena Trivia

Spotted hyaenas are threatened by a decline in their prey densities due to habitat loss caused by increased human settlement, overgrazing by livestock, and game-meat hunting by humans.

Spotted hyaenas are threatened by a decline in their prey densities due to habitat loss caused by increased human settlement, overgrazing by livestock, and game-meat hunting by humans.

Spotted hyaenas are threatened by a decline in their prey densities due to habitat loss caused by increased human settlement, overgrazing by livestock, and game-meat hunting by humans.

Spotted hyaenas are threatened by a decline in their prey densities due to habitat loss caused by increased human settlement, overgrazing by livestock, and game-meat hunting by humans.

Spotted hyaenas form social groups called clans or cackles.

Spotted hyaenas form social groups called clans or cackles.

The spotted hyaena is a large, common carnivore.

Females usually bear twins although one to four young are possible.

Spotted hyaenas inhabit a wide variety of habitats, including forest, savanna, grassland, and even human habitations.

Spotted hyaenas inhabit a wide variety of habitats, including forest, savanna, grassland, and even human habitations.

Spotted hyaenas inhabit a wide variety of habitats, including forest, savanna, grassland, and even human habitations.

The spotted hyaena has the highest parental investment of any carnivore for several reasons, however males have not been reported to have a role in parental care.

Communal denning seems to be an important part of spotted hyaena social behavior, but no communal care of young takes place. One exception to this has been observed in the Kalahari during a particularly difficult period.

Female spotted hyaenas are extremely masculinated and the genitalia of females are almost indistinguishable from those of males. Thus, males and females look extremely similar.

Newborn spotted hyaenas weigh from 1 to 1.6 kilograms and are quite precocious, being born with their eyes open.

A lactating female can make 40 to 50 trips per year for a total of 2,800 to 3,600 kilometers per year.

Spotted hyaenas are social and form social groups.

Fecal analysis in the Serengeti and Ngongoro crater, Tanzania revealed that about 80% of the samples contained wildebeest, zebra, and various gazelle specie

The lion is the spotted hyaena’s greatest natural enemy as they compete directly for food, scavenge each other’s kills, and have antagonistic encounters that may result in death.

The giggling is the trademark laughing call of the hyaena. Is associated with fear or excitement and is often given when an individual is being chased. Because of this cackling sound, the species is sometimes referred to as the laughing hyaena.

Viable populations of spotted hyaena exist in a number of countries and a tentative estimate of the total global population is between 27,000 and 47,000.

Unlike other hyaenas, the spotted hyaena has rounded ears.

The spotted hyaena is a common predator on domestic livestock in Africa. Damage to domestic stock mainly involves cattle, sheep, and goats and varies widely in intensity.

Spotted hyaena clans are matrilinear and females are usually dominant over males.

Spotted hyaena populations in protected areas may also be decimated by authorities when they are considered a threat for other wildlife species such as lions (Panthera leo), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), and rhinos.

Spotted hyaena populations in protected areas may also be decimated by authorities when they are considered a threat for other wildlife species such as lions (Panthera leo), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), and rhinos.

Spotted hyaena populations in protected areas may also be decimated by authorities when they are considered a threat for other wildlife species such as lions (Panthera leo), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), and rhinos.

Legal classification of the spotted hyaena varies. They are fully-protected in conservation areas such as in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

Spotted hyaenas are killed for sport, food, medicine, and witchcraft.

Spotted hyaenas are killed for sport, food, medicine, and witchcraft.

Spotted hyaenas are killed for sport, food, medicine, and witchcraft.

Spotted hyaenas are killed for sport, food, medicine, and witchcraft.

Because the spotted hyaena is a large, common carnivore in many parts of Africa, it is a valuable resource for safari companies and is considered an important part of the tourist industry. In at least two locations in Ethiopia, live, wild spotted hyaenas are utilized by locals for tourism. In Nigeria, local people earn money by keeping spotted hyaenas and showing them to spectators on exhibition walks.

The jaws are probably the strongest in relation to size of any mammal.

Spotted hyaena territory size is extremely variable ranging from as small as 40 square kilometeres in the Ngorongoro crater to 1000 square kilometers in the Kalahari.

Mortality due to wire snares set to catch wild herbivores for meat is an important cause of adult hyaena mortality in the Serengeti, where snares are responsible for more than half of all adult mortality.

Mating in spotted hyaenas is highly polygynous and aseasonal.

Although all females produce litters, alpha females have a younger age at first breeding, shorter interbirth intervals, and increased survival of offspring.

Although all females produce litters, alpha females have a younger age at first breeding, shorter interbirth intervals, and increased survival of offspring.

Although all females produce litters, alpha females have a younger age at first breeding, shorter interbirth intervals, and increased survival of offspring.

The spotted hyaena has a very coarse and wooly coat that is sandy, yellowish, or gray in color.

The spotted hyaena is an endurance hunter and can run or lope over great distances in search for prey. A chase in the Kalahari once lasted 24 kilometers before the prey, a common eland (Tragelaphus oryx), was captured.

The spotted hyaena is listed as “Least Concern” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species as the species remains widespread in Africa, and the total world population well exceeds 10,000 mature individuals.

Today, spotted hyaenas are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, south of the Sahara, and are relatively widely distributed. Their current distribution is patchy, especially in West and Central Africa, with populations often concentrated in protected areas. High densities occur in the Serengeti and especially the Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania.

The spotted hyaena’s population trend is listed as “Decreasing” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

A study in the Kalahari found that 70% of the diet was composed of direct kills.

Spotted hyaena milk has extremely high energy content as the mean protein content is 14.9%, and the mean fat content is 14.1%. This is only exceeded by some bears and sea otters (Enhydra lutris).

Cubs are not weaned until they are between 12 and 18 months of age, which is extremely late.

The spotted hyaena has the highest parental investment of any carnivore.

The spotted hyaena is sexually dimorphic with females weighing around 6.6 kilograms more than males. Male weight ranges from about 45 to 60 kilograms (154-132 pounds) whereas females weigh 55 to over 70 kilograms (121-154 pounds).

The female has no external vagina and must urinate, mate, and deliver young through the urogenital canal that exits through the pseudo-penis.

The female has no external vagina and must urinate, mate, and deliver young through the urogenital canal that exits through the pseudo-penis.

The female has no external vagina and must urinate, mate, and deliver young through the urogenital canal that exits through the pseudo-penis.

If siblings are the same sex, they begin fighting violently soon after birth, which usually results in the death of one of the two. Since single young receive more food and mature faster, this behavior is probably adaptive.

The average round trip for these expeditions is about 80 kilometers.

Although long periods may elapse between drinking, spotted hyaenas are at least somewhat dependent on water. Spotted hyaena clans have been known to disperse after the only water source in their range dried up.

Spotted hyaenas form social groups composed of 3 to 80 members.

The spotted hyaena is one of the top predators in its region.

Males are generally ignored. Female calls generally elicit much more of a reaction.

The spotted hyaena is the most numerous large predator in the Serengeti.

Once a male joins another clan, he enters a dominance queue that the other males respect. As more males enter the queue and older males die, the male will move up through the social rank. Males spend a long time developing relationships with females in the clan. They follow females for periods of days or weeks and eventually gain favor with the females through this behavior.

The spotted hyaena has been known to attack and kill humans, especially during human disease outbreaks.

Female spotted hyaenas remain in their natal clan for their entire lives and have stable linear dominance hierarchies.

The spotted hyaena has short, non-retractable claws and broad toe pads.

Legal classification of the spotted hyaena varies. They are considered “vermin” in parts of Ethiopia.

Populations of spotted hyaenas are subject to persecution by humans in numerous ways including culling, trapping, and poisoning. Entire clans of spotted hyaenas may be killed by poisoning, and many individuals are killed when hit by vehicles, or by shooting and spearing. Such activities may sometimes occur within the boundaries of conservation areas, but are especially prevalent outside of protected areas.

Populations of spotted hyaenas are subject to persecution by humans in numerous ways including culling, trapping, and poisoning. Entire clans of spotted hyaenas may be killed by poisoning, and many individuals are killed when hit by vehicles, or by shooting and spearing. Such activities may sometimes occur within the boundaries of conservation areas, but are especially prevalent outside of protected areas.

Populations of spotted hyaenas are subject to persecution by humans in numerous ways including culling, trapping, and poisoning. Entire clans of spotted hyaenas may be killed by poisoning, and many individuals are killed when hit by vehicles, or by shooting and spearing. Such activities may sometimes occur within the boundaries of conservation areas, but are especially prevalent outside of protected areas.

Populations of spotted hyaenas are subject to persecution by humans in numerous ways including culling, trapping, and poisoning. Entire clans of spotted hyaenas may be killed by poisoning, and many individuals are killed when hit by vehicles, or by shooting and spearing. Such activities may sometimes occur within the boundaries of conservation areas, but are especially prevalent outside of protected areas.

Hair and scraps of skin are often collected from dead animals and are used as talismans. In several areas in Tanzania, spotted hyaenas and their body parts are utilized for witchcraft.

Hair and scraps of skin are often collected from dead animals and are used as talismans. In several areas in Tanzania, spotted hyaenas and their body parts are utilized for witchcraft.

Hair and scraps of skin are often collected from dead animals and are used as talismans. In several areas in Tanzania, spotted hyaenas and their body parts are utilized for witchcraft.

About two-thirds of the tail is composed of bone with the other one-third being solely hair.

Spotted hyaena clans defend group territories using vocal displays and scent marking. In addition, spotted hyaenas use communal latrines which also serve to mark territory boundaries. Chemical communication occurs because of the use of common latrine areas, as well as in scent marking.

Spotted hyaena clans defend group territories using vocal displays and scent marking. In addition, spotted hyaenas use communal latrines which also serve to mark territory boundaries. Chemical communication occurs because of the use of common latrine areas, as well as in scent marking.

Spotted hyaena clans defend group territories using vocal displays and scent marking. In addition, spotted hyaenas use communal latrines which also serve to mark territory boundaries. Chemical communication occurs because of the use of common latrine areas, as well as in scent marking.

Spotted hyaenas perform a phallic inspection as a greeting. Two individuals stand head to tail, lift the rear leg closest to the other and then sniff and touch each other’s extended phallus for up to 30 seconds.

The dominance of females assures that males are timid and will retreat immediately if the female shows any aggression.

Males perform a bowing display to females before mating. The male lowers his muzzle to the ground, advances quickly toward the female, bows again, and then paws the ground close behind the female.

High-ranking female hyaenas seem to preferentially give birth to sons.

The spotted hyaena is strongly built with a massive neck and large head. The front legs are longer than the hind legs, which gives the back of the hyaena a slightly odd, downward slope. The hyaena’s relatively short hind legs and long neck are perfect adaptations to the loping locomotion because they minimize its energetic costs. Its long, muscular neck further enables it to carry heavy prey away from other hyaenas and lions (Panthera leo), or to bring food to their cubs at the communal den.

Typically, clans split up into hunting groups of two to five individuals, although zebra are hunted in larger groups.

The IUCN Hyaena Specialist Group has identified this species as “conservation dependent”. This means that there is currently a conservation program aimed at this species, but without this program the species would most likely be eligible for threatened status within 5 years.

Spotted hyaenas often chase their prey long distances at speeds up to 60 kilometers per hour.

Spotted hyaena females are very protective of their young and do not tolerate other hyaenas around them at first.

By the weaning age, juvenile hyaenas already have completely erupted adult teeth, which is also very rare.

The spotted hyaena’s gestation period is four months.

Two to six weeks after birth, the mother transports young from the burrow in which they were born, often an abandoned aardvark (Orycteropus afer), warthog, or bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis) burrow, to a communal den.

Two to six weeks after birth, the mother transports young from the burrow in which they were born, often an abandoned aardvark (Orycteropus afer), warthog, or bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis) burrow, to a communal den.

Two to six weeks after birth, the mother transports young from the burrow in which they were born, often an abandoned aardvark (Orycteropus afer), warthog, or bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis) burrow, to a communal den.

Newborns are almost entirely black.

Males give the fast whoop more often than females.

Rank is inherited from the mother so these hierarchies remain stable for many generations.

Females are capable of producing a litter every 11 to 21 months.

Spotted hyaenas are an extremely important component of the ecosystem and utilize almost every part of their prey except for horns and rumen.

Spotted hyaenas are an extremely important component of the Serengeti ecosystem of Africa and utilize almost every part of their prey except for horns and rumen.

Males disperse upon reaching sexual maturity. Juvenile males emigrate after puberty and join new clans where their position in the dominance hierarchy may increase over time.

Unlike the aardwolf (Proteles cristata) which has five toes, the spotted hyaena has four digits on each foot.

In some protected areas, spotted hyaenas may be legally killed by resident humans when they have preyed upon livestock. Government officials and managers allow local human residents within protected areas to kill spotted hyaenas when they are suspected or known to have preyed upon livestock.

The species is sport hunted in several places in Africa, though the hyaenas are not much in demand from trophy hunters because they are not viewed as attractive. Because they aren’t considered an attractive species, the numbers killed by licensed sport hunters are probably small.

Tourists pay to feed the hyaenas by hand, and some believe that the hyaenas take away bad spirits and that feeding them will cure various ailments.

Tourists pay to feed the hyaenas by hand, and some believe that the hyaenas take away bad spirits and that feeding them will cure various ailments.

The tail is about 30 to 36 centimeters (11-14 inches) long and ends in a bushy black tip.

Scent marks are deposited from a secretion of the anal gland and from a secretion of glands on the feet.

Scent marks are deposited from a secretion of the anal gland and from a secretion of glands on the feet.

Mortality due to wire snares set to catch wild herbivores for meat is an important cause of adult hyaena mortality in the Serengeti, where snares kill around 400 adult spotted hyaenas each year.

The age at sexual maturity is about three years, although some males may be sexually active at two.

The spots are darkest in younger animals and can be almost completely absent in very old animals.