During a hunt, spotted hyenas often run through ungulate herds in order to select an individual to attack. He further states that "The sons of Israel are like this animal since in the beginning they served the living God but later, given over to pleasure and lust, they adored idols." Although still relatively common in some protected areas, spotted hyenas are likely declining due to persecution. [27] Adult male spotted hyenas in the Serengeti weigh 40.5–55.0 kg (89–121 lb), while females weigh 44.5–63.9 kg (98–141 lb). [86] The intelligence of the spotted hyena was attested to by Dutch colonists in 19th-century South Africa, who noted that hyenas were exceedingly cunning and suspicious, particularly after successfully escaping from traps. It has a broad, line-like mouth that evokes a smile. [19] After the release of The Lion King, hyena biologists protested against the animal's portrayal: one hyena researcher sued Disney studios for defamation of character,[157] and another – who had organized the animators' visit to the University of California's Field Station for Behavioural Research, where they would observe and sketch captive hyenas[19] – suggested boycotting the film. It has large round eyes and short, rounded ears which are set far from each other. [35], The spotted hyena has a strong and well developed neck and forequarters, but relatively underdeveloped hindquarters. Sir Walter Raleigh, in an attempt to rationalise how Noah's Ark could have fitted all extant species of animal, wrote that hyenas were hybrids between foxes and wolves which originated after the Great Flood. Female spotted hyenas have androgens (hormones) in their systems. Spotted hyena society is matriarchal; females are larger than males, and dominate them. In the Gelede cult of the Yoruba people of Benin and Southwest Nigeria, a spotted hyena mask is used at dawn to signal the end of the èfè ceremony. He adds three other animals within the category of hyenas, including an Ethiopian quadruped named "Crocotta", which was thought to be a hybrid between a hyena and a lioness. [5] In Western Europe at least, the spotted hyena's extinction coincided with a decline in grasslands 12,500 years ago. They are protected inside national parks, but are not tolerated elsewhere. In functional terms, the spotted hyena makes the most efficient use of animal matter of all African carnivores. And it's more robust, so it can outmuscle the wolf too if it comes to that. [88] Also, spotted hyenas have been recorded to utilise deceptive behaviour, including giving alarm calls during feeding when no enemies are present, thus frightening off other hyenas and allowing them to temporarily eat in peace. [63] High-ranking hyenas maintain their position through aggression directed against lower-ranking clan-members. The higher androgen levels – the result of high concentrations of ovarian androstenedione – are thought to be responsible for the extreme masculinization of female behavior and morphology. Spotted Hyena (1,000 PSI) Getty Images As befitting mammals that can eat, chew and digest solid bone, spotted hyenas are equipped with massive skulls, disproportionately large trunks and forelimbs, and powerful bites that can rip through carcasses with up to … [10] The social network dynamics of spotted hyenas are determined by multiple factors. When approaching a dominant animal, subordinate spotted hyenas will walk on the knees of their forelegs in submission. Because of their size, adult hyenas are incapable of using the full extent of their burrows, as most tunnels are dug by cubs or smaller animals. [163][171], In Burkina Faso, the hyena's tail is used for medicinal and magical purposes. References to the spotted hyena's vocalisations are referenced in numerous contemporary examples of English literature, including Shakespeare's As You Like It and George Chapman's Eastward Ho. [133] The pitch of the laugh indicates the hyena's age, while variations in the frequency of notes used when hyenas make noises convey information about the animal's social rank. It could be any subspecies of wolf yet you always seem to choose the largest one. The second migration of spotted hyenas occurred less than 1.3–1.5 million years ago and resulted in the first arrival of hyenas in Europe and a separation of African spotted hyenas into a southern and a northern population. Clan boundaries are usually respected; hyenas chasing prey have been observed to stop dead in their tracks once their prey crosses into another clan's range. Moderator:networks12. The odour of this secretion is very strong, smelling of boiling cheap soap or burning, and can be detected by humans several metres downwind. lynx vs bobcat. In west Africa, the spotted hyena is primarily a scavenger who will occasionally attack domestic stock and medium-size antelopes in some areas. During the 20th century, Western and African stereotypes of the spotted hyena converged; in both Ernest Hemingway's Green Hills of Africa and Disney's The Lion King, the traits of gluttony and comical stupidity, common in African depictions of hyenas, are added to the Western perception of hyenas being cowardly and ugly. These glands produce a white, creamy secretion which is pasted onto grass stalks by everting the rectum. [164] In 1908–09 in Uganda, spotted hyenas regularly killed sufferers of African sleeping sickness as they slept outside in camps. dingo vs jackal. [137] Spotted hyenas may act as hosts in the life-cycles of various parasites which start life in herbivores; Taenia hyaenae and T. olnogojinae occur in hyenas in their adult phase. An image in the Le Gabillou Cave in Dordogne shows a deeply engraved zoomorphic figure with a head in frontal view and an elongated neck with part of the forelimb in profile. [69] In the final stages of pregnancy, dominant females provide their developing offspring with higher androgen levels than lower-ranking mothers do. Populations are concentrated in protected areas and surrounding land. The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), also known as the laughing hyena, is a hyena species, currently classed as the sole extant member of the genus Crocuta, native to sub-Saharan Africa.It is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN on account of its widespread range and large numbers estimated between 27,000 and 47,000 individuals. The mouth is slightly open with the head horizontal. These animals are often not given much credit for their contribution to the ecosystem. They react to alighting vultures more readily than other African carnivores, and are more likely to stay in the vicinity of lion kills or human settlements.[97]. [68], The spotted hyena is a non-seasonal breeder, though a birth peak does occur during the wet season. Its preferred habitats in west Africa include the Guinea and Sudan savannahs, and is absent in the belt of dense coastal forest. [65] Higher ranking adult spotted hyenas tend to have higher telomere length and higher levels of some immune defense proteins in their blood serum. [176], During the 19th century, the species was frequently displayed in travelling circuses as oddities. [54] Both partners usually lick their genitals for several minutes after mating. Overall, the two animals typically ignore each other when there is no food or young at stake. [25], Several languages of Africa lack species specific names for hyenas: for example, the spotted and striped species have identical names in Dyula, Swahili, Mandinka, Mossi, Ngambaye, Wolof and Fulani. When attacked by other hyenas or by wild dogs, the hyena lowers its hindquarters. [17] Unlike the grey wolf, the spotted hyena relies more on sight than smell when hunting, and does not follow its prey's prints or travel in single file. [13] A study done by evolutionary anthropologists demonstrated that spotted hyenas outperform chimpanzees on cooperative problem-solving tests; captive pairs of spotted hyenas were challenged to tug two ropes in unison to earn a food reward, successfully cooperating and learning the maneuvers quickly without prior training. Lions are quick to follow the calls of hyenas feeding, a fact demonstrated by field experiments, during which lions repeatedly approached whenever the tape-recorded calls of hyenas feeding were played. The Puma is faster, more agile, and, other than bite force, stronger than the hyena. [64] However, rank in spotted hyena cubs is greatly dependent on the presence of the mother; low-ranking adults may act aggressively toward higher-ranking cubs when the mother is absent. [53][54] Once the female retracts her clitoris, the male enters the female by sliding beneath her, an operation facilitated by the penis's upward angle. [74], The length of the gestation period tends to vary greatly, though 110 days is the average length of time. ", Comparative ecology and taphonomy of spotted hyenas, humans, and wolves in Pleistocene Italy, "Spotted hyena returns to Gabon park after 20 years: researchers", "The impact of land reform on the status of large carnivores in Zimbabwe", "The Magicality of the Hyena: Beliefs and Practices in West and South Asia", "Livestock Depredation of the Spotted Hyena (, Preliminary data on human – carnivore conflict in Niassa National Reserve, Mozambique, particularly fatalities due to lion, spotted hyaena and crocodile, "The urban hyenas that attack rough sleepers", "Markedly Elevated Antibody Responses in Wild versus Captive Spotted Hyenas Show that Environmental and Ecological Factors Are Important Modulators of Immunity", Account of Travels Into the Interior of Southern Af, The IUCN Hyaenidae Specialist Group page on spotted hyena, The Female External Genitalia of the Spotted Hyena, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spotted_hyena&oldid=1001025684, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2013, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from July 2020, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. A less distinct spot pattern is present on the legs and belly but not on the throat and chest. Yeah, I can't see the hyena winning this. [63], Compared to other hyenas, the spotted hyena shows a greater relative amount of frontal cortex which is involved in the mediation of social behavior. [151] An anecdotal 2004 news report from the World Wide Fund for Nature indicates that 35 people were killed by spotted hyenas during a 12-month period in Mozambique along a 20 km stretch of road near the Tanzanian border. [161] Man-eating spotted hyenas tend to be very large specimens; a pair of man-eating hyenas, responsible for killing 27 people in Mlanje, Malawi, in 1962, were weighed at 72 and 77 kg (159 and 170 lb) after being shot. Often done while running, with the mouth bent down, Used with other hyenas present just before the onset of an attack, often during a dispute over a kill with lions or other hyenas. The Puma is faster, more agile, and, other than bite force, stronger than the hyena. your own Pins on Pinterest Wolf. [69] Like many feliform species, the spotted hyena is promiscuous, and no enduring pair bonds are formed. They also view spotted hyena faeces as contaminating, and will evacuate a village if a hyena relieves itself within village boundaries. [149] In west African tales, spotted hyenas symbolise immorality, dirty habits, the reversal of normal activities, and other negative traits, and are sometimes depicted as bad Muslims who challenge the local animism that exists among the Beng in Côte d’Ivoire. The female striped hyena's genitalia are transiently masculinized, although it lacks the enlarged clitoris and false scrotal sack noted in the female genitalia of the spotted hyena. [90] The spotted hyena tracks live prey by sight, hearing and smell. The spotted hyena also has its carnassials situated behind its bone-crushing premolars, the position of which allows it to crush bone with its premolars without blunting the carnassials. At parity it's much closer but the hyena would still win. Each foot has four digits, which are webbed and armed with short, stout and blunt claws. Alfred Brehm wrote that the spotted hyena is harder to tame than the striped hyena, and that performing specimens in circuses were not up to standard. In theory, the relative frequency of tooth breakage should be similar across all Although present in Rwanda, it is unlikely that many individuals have survived the destruction of conservation areas during the. [77] Giving birth is difficult for female hyenas, as the females give birth through their narrow clitoris, and spotted hyena cubs are the largest carnivoran young relative to their mothers' weight. Surplus killing has been recorded in South Africa's eastern Cape Province. It is often difficult to know whether or not spotted hyenas are the specific hyena species featured in such stories, particularly in West Africa, as both spotted and striped hyenas are often given the same names. [98] Cape buffalo are rarely attacked due to differences in habitat preference, though adult bulls have been recorded to be taken on occasion. Also, cubs will attack each other shortly after birth. The female has 3 pairs of nipples. There exists a common misconception that hyenas steal kills from lions, but most often it is the other way around,[111] and lions will readily steal the kills of spotted hyenas. [38] The spotted hyena has a proportionately large heart, constituting close to 1% of its body weight, thus giving it great endurance in long chases. The pseudo-penis is traversed to its tip by a central urogenital canal, through which the female urinates, copulates and gives birth. The crest is mostly reddish-brown in colour. gorilla vs grizzly bear. [179] If not raised with adult members of their kind, captive spotted hyenas will exhibit scent marking behaviours much later in life than wild specimens. The leopard has larger jaws but the cougar's bite is more than good enough to do a lot of damage anyway. Analyses of several hyena saliva samples showed that the species is unlikely to be a rabies vector, thus indicating that the species catches the disease from other animals rather than from intraspecifics. In the same area, hyena faeces are believed to enable a child to walk at an early age, thus it is not uncommon in that area to see children with hyena dung wrapped in their clothes. Bosman, a Dutch tradesman who worked for the Dutch West India Company at the Gold Coast (modern day Ghana) from 1688 to 1701, wrote of "Jakhals, of Boshond" (jackals or woodland dogs) whose physical descriptions match the spotted hyena. [23], The first detailed first-hand descriptions of the spotted hyena by Europeans come from Willem Bosman and Peter Kolbe. Androgens and masculinization of genitalia in the spotted hyaena. Spotted Hyena Clan versus Gray Wolf Pack . During the canine distemper outbreak of 1993–94, molecular studies indicated that the viruses isolated from hyenas and lions were more closely related to each other than to the closest canine distemper virus in dogs. [104], A single spotted hyena can eat at least 14.5 kg of meat per meal,[105] and although they act aggressively toward each other when feeding, they compete with each other mostly through speed of eating, rather than by fighting as lions do. Spotted hyenas in Zambia tend to be heavier, with males weighing on average 67.6 kg (149 lb), and females 69.2 kg (153 lb). These substances are associated with dominance and social status. Although wild dog packs can easily repel solitary hyenas, on the whole, the relationship between the two species is a one sided benefit for the hyenas,[124] with wild dog densities being negatively correlated with high hyena populations. [18], The relative scarcity of hyena depictions in Paleolithic rock art has been theorised to be due to the animal's lower rank in the animal worship hierarchy; the spotted hyena's appearance was likely unappealing to Ice Age hunters, and it was not sought after as prey. [93] During a chase, zebras typically move in tight bunches, with the hyenas pursuing behind in a crescent formation. Chases are usually initiated by one hyena and, with the exception of cows with calves, there is little active defence from the wildebeest herd. As a result, many captive hyena populations are facing extinction. The hyena is better off in a group, like wolves. It was often the case that native skinners refused to even touch hyena carcasses, though this was not usually a problem, as hyena skins were not considered attractive. The spotted hyena is a top carnivore in its ecosystem and has no natural predators. It says Grey Wolf v Striped hyena. 16. Recent observations shows that African rock pythons can hunt adult spotted hyenas. [63][80] Cubs will nurse from their mother for 12–16 months, though they can process solid food as early as three months. [9] Combined with large jaw muscles and a special vaulting to protect the skull against large forces, these characteristics give the spotted hyena a powerful bite which can exert a pressure of 80 kgf/cm2 (1140 lbf/in²),[42] which is 40% more force than a leopard can generate. platypus vs beaver. There is a continuous distribution over large areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia and the Transvaal Lowveld areas of South Africa. Crocuta actually comes from the Ancient Greek word Κροκόττας (Krokottas), which is derived from the Sanskrit koṭṭhâraka, which in turn originates from kroshṭuka (both of which were originally meant to signify the golden jackal). The author compared the species to "double-minded men" who are neither "man nor woman, that is, neither faithful nor unfaithful". Also, many captive individuals have not been closely examined to confirm their sexes, thus resulting in non-breeding pairs often turning out to be same-sexed individuals. [143] Oromo hunters typically go through ritual purification after killing hyenas. Sir Thomas Browne also argued against the hyena's supposed hermaphroditism, stating that all animals follow their own "Law of Coition", and that a hermaphrodite would transgress this. In contrast, chimps and other primates often require extensive training, and cooperation between individuals is not always as easy for them. This happened before. [81] Mothers do not regurgitate food for their young. During daylight hours, they watch vultures descending upon carcasses. Cougar can kill a black bear. Brown Hyena and Spotted Hyena Interactions. Within ten days of birth, they are able to move at considerable speed. lion vs tiger. In appearance, the spotted hyaena is dog-like, with high shoulders and powerful forequarters sloping down to the hindquarters. Like the fast whoop, but with less tendency to attack. The spots, which are of variable distinction, may be reddish, deep brown or almost blackish. [14] Unlike its brown and striped cousins, the spotted hyena is a predator, not a scavenger; this has been shown since the 1960s. [175] Nevertheless, the spotted hyena was historically scantily represented in zoos, and was typically obtained in order to fill empty cages until a more prestigious species could be obtained. sivalensis. Males are more likely to enter another clan's territory than females are, as they are less attached to their natal group and will leave it when in search of a mate. [81] Spotted hyenas reach sexual maturity at the age of three years. Once selected, their prey is chased over a long distance, often several kilometres, at speeds of up to 60 km/h. [138] The causes of the species' extinction in Eurasia are still largely unknown. [45] A 63.1 kg (139 lb) spotted hyena is estimated to have a bite force of 565.7 newtons at the canine tip and 985.5 newtons at the carnassial eocone. [39] The now extinct Eurasian populations were distinguished from the modern African populations by their shorter distal extremities and longer humerus and femur. Cubs take the rank directly below their mothers at birth. [121] Hyenas are nonetheless dangerous opponents for leopards; there is at least one record of a young adult male leopard dying from a sepsis infection caused by wounds inflicted by a spotted hyena. [5] Remains have also been found in the Russian Far East, and it has been theorised that the presence of hyenas there may have delayed the colonisation of North America. [63] Spotted hyena dens can have more than a dozen entrances, and are mostly located on flat ground. spotted hyena vs grey wolf. It's more durable, so it could take more bites and continue fighting. Drea CM, Frank LG (2003) The social complexity of spotted hyenas. A corpse rejected by hyenas is seen as having something wrong with it, and liable to cause social disgrace, therefore it is not uncommon for bodies to be covered in fat and blood from a slaughtered ox. The spotted hyena is very efficient at eating its prey; not only is it able to splinter and eat the largest ungulate bones, it is also able to digest them completely. After giving birth, the pseudo-penis is stretched, and loses many of its original aspects; it becomes a slack-walled and reduced prepuce with an enlarged orifice with split lips. [154], Spotted hyenas feature prominently in the rituals of certain African cultures. The general tone is an "oo" tone which begins in a low pitch and ends with a high note. The spotted hyena is the most carnivorous member of the Hyaenidae. Once this is accomplished, a typical mammalian mating posture is adopted. Jane Goodall recorded spotted hyenas attacking or savagely playing with the exterior and interior fittings of cars, and the species is thought to be responsible for eating car tyres. [63], Cubs are born with soft, brownish black hair, and weigh 1.5 kg on average. Post Sep 10, 2009 #1 2009-09-10T04:58. James Stevenson-Hamilton wrote that wounded spotted hyenas could be dangerous adversaries for hunting dogs, recording an incident in which a hyena managed to kill a dog with a single bite to the neck without breaking the skin. unlike a grey wolf the cougar doesn't have much of a size advantage against a spotted hyena from zambia at 69.2 kg, its basically much bulkier in comparison to a grey wolf with a relatively bulkier neck and a broader head in comparison too, which makes it kinda difficult to subdue the upper body to deliever the finishing bite. [82] Females are very protective of their cubs, and will not tolerate other adults, particularly males, approaching them. Testosterone levels in spotted hyena females are as high as those in males. [60] Spotted hyena clans are more compact and unified than wolf packs, but are not as closely knit as those of African wild dogs. Lone puma can fend of multiple wolves, and even repel a bear, if necessary (I'm not saying that it will defeat the wolves and bear, just that they make the other predators realize it just ain't worth it). According to Mbugwe folklore, every witch possesses one or more hyenas, which are referred to as "night cattle" and are branded with an invisible mark. The crown and upper part of the face is brownish, save for a white band above both eyes, though the front of the eyes, the area around the rhinarium, the lips and the back portion of the chin are all blackish. [162] Attacks occur most commonly in September, when many people sleep outdoors, and bush fires make the hunting of wild game difficult for hyenas. The average lifespan in zoos is 12 years, with a maximum of 25 years. [110] Spotted hyenas are adept at eating their prey in water: they have been observed to dive under floating carcasses to take bites, then resurface to swallow. Bushbuck, suni and buffalo are the dominant prey items in the Aberdare Mountains, while Grant's gazelle, gerenuk, sheep, goats and cattle are likely preyed upon in northern Kenya. The hyena is better off in a group, like wolves. During an attack, or when excited, the tail is carried forward on the back. [122] There is also a case of two spotted hyenas killing and eating a young leopard in Timbavati Game Reserve, apparently in revenge after a young hyena was killed by the leopard. [164] During the 1960s, Flying Doctors received over two dozen cases of hyena attacks on humans in Kenya. [61] Females dominate males, with even the lowest ranking females being dominant over the highest ranking males. They are vulnerable to Trypanosoma congolense, which is contracted by consuming already infected herbivores, rather than through direct infection from tsetse flies. Carrion is detected by smell and the sound of other predators feeding. One of the most misunderstood animals, the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) has a reputation as being sly and cowardly but is, in fact, fascinating and intelligent with a remarkable social system. [7] European Paleolithic rock art depicting the species indicates that the Eurasian populations retained the spots of their modern-day African counterparts. [173] Further difficulties in killing spotted hyenas with dogs include the species' thick skin, which prevents dogs from inflicting serious damage to the animal's muscles.[174]. [5] The spotted hyena is the largest known member of the Hyaenidae, and is further physically distinguished from other species by its vaguely bear-like build,[6] its rounded ears,[7] its less prominent mane, its spotted pelt,[8] its more dual purposed dentition,[9] its fewer nipples[10] and the presence of a pseudo-penis in the female. In order to obviate this danger, a killed hyena usually has its ears, tail and front legs cut off and buried, as these are the parts which are supposed to be marked by the witches' brand. The mouth is closed, and the posture aggressive. [79] Unique among carnivorous mammals, spotted hyenas are also born with their eyes open and with 6–7 mm long canine teeth and 4 mm long incisors. Spotted hyenas will sometimes follow jackals and wolves during the gazelle fawning season, as jackals and wolves are effective at tracking and catching young animals. Wolf vs Hyena - Depends on the wolf or hyena. The loud "who-oop" call, along with the maniacal laughter, are among the most recognisable sounds of Africa. Some research groups (such as Ngorongoro Crater Hyena Project[50] and MSU Hyena Project[51]) often use the spot patterns to help identify individual hyenas). In: Glickman SE, Cunha GR, Drea CM, Conley AJ and Place NJ. Unlike other African carnivores, with the exception of the leopard, there is no evidence to suggest that spotted hyenas underwent a genetic bottleneck during the Pleistocene. [168], In some parts of Africa, spotted hyenas have begun to frequent metropolitan areas, where groups or "clans" of the animals have become a menace. Share. [129], Spotted hyenas have a complex set of postures in communication. Unlike the larger spotted hyena, there are no sizable differences between the sexes, though males may be slightly larger than the females. A mongoose is a small terrestrial carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Herpestidae.This family is currently split into two subfamilies, the Herpestinae and the Mungotinae.The Herpestinae comprises 23 living species that are native to southern Europe, Africa and Asia, whereas the Mungotinae comprises 11 species native to Africa. [100], Spotted hyenas have also been found to catch fish, tortoises, humans, black rhino, hippo calves, young African elephants, pangolins and pythons. Explicit, negative judgments occur in the Physiologus, where the animal is depicted as a hermaphrodite and grave-robber.

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