Hyenas have earned themselves a bad rep, yet they’re highly intelligent animals that live in complex social groups. Although often disliked, these important predators deserve our respect.
After three months of gestation, female hyenas give birth to one to four cubs that have their eyes sealed shut for five to nine days while they nurse for over one year.
Age at Maturity
The spotted hyena is notable for its long gestation period and polyestrous females; typically producing two cubs per litter but sometimes up to five. Hyenas stand out among carnivorous mammals in that their birthing process differs significantly from similar-sized mammals as it lacks external vaginal openings; instead using their multitasking pseudo-penis they use to urinate, copulate, and deliver their babies; this makes birth more challenging than others, with 10 percent of first time mothers per first time as first-time mothers die during labor – often over one year later than when other mammals would.
Hyenas are social animals that form groups called clans of up to 80 individuals. Each clan is led by one alpha female, while males usually aren’t as powerful than their counterparts in terms of dominating relationships or mutual aid systems. Males who can no longer compete against dominant females or another male will leave the clan and begin their own.
Hyenas live up to 20 years in the wild and 40 in captivity. Although they may seem mischievous and deceptive, hyenas are very intelligent animals able to remember the voices and ranks of clanmates; this cognitive feat helps them navigate their strict social hierarchy without constant conflict.
Spotted hyenas are well known for their sense of humor and mock groaning, yet they’re also very intelligent creatures. One researcher even used puzzle boxes with predators like polar bears and panthers as bait to test these problem solving abilities in spotted hyenas. She discovered that those performing well at these tests exhibited high socialization – suggesting this trait as being an evolutionary advantage.
Hyena brains are among the largest of any land mammal. Shaped like a pyramid and housing more neurons than any other mammal species, their large minds allow them to think more abstractly than other animals; as well as being adept at recognizing patterns and relationships within large data sets. Furthermore, their large brains enable them to make good decisions when protecting themselves against predators or competitors.
Lifespan
Hyenas are among the longest-living terrestrial carnivores. In captivity they can live into their mid-teens compared to 20 in the wild; this impressive longevity may be explained by hyenas’ unique long period of skull development after sexual maturity compared to other canids or felids such as lions or tigers.
The spotted hyena is the largest species among three hyena species (spotted, brown and striped hyenas). Found across Africa – Chad, Sudan, Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe to name just a few – they typically inhabit grasslands but can also be found living in woodlands or semi-desert environments.
These omnivores can often be found hunting alone or in small groups. Highly adept hunters with excellent hearing and eyesight, their powerful jaws can crush bones, teeth, horns, hooves and hoofs before digesting any remains for maximum nutritional benefit.
Spotted hyenas are social animals that live in clans composed of several female adults and their offspring, each clan being structured around an older female who dominates in an ascendant dominance hierarchy. Males can switch clans in order to reduce inbreeding; females must remain with their maternal clan until death occurs.
They use various vocalizations such as wailing calls, howling screams and the famous laugh to communicate among themselves and with predators. Furthermore, they may make sounds that mimicking lion roars to scare off predators.
Hyenas are best known for being found in large herds of ungulates; however, they can also be seen roaming small herds of small antelope and other mammals. Hyenas can also scavenge for carrion left by prey animals to gain an edge over more lonesome predators such as lions or leopards that typically hunt alone.
At Out of Africa Wildlife Park, we have two hyenas – Chipa and Chitabe. Chipa was born captively in South Africa before coming to Out of Africa at just four months old; Chitabe, on the other hand, was born at our neighbor park and arrived here two months later. Both hyenas love chasing sticks around their habitats while swimming in Tiger Splash Arena or engaging with guests during Wonders of Wildlife shows!
Diet
Hyenas feed on an array of meat, fruit, seeds and invertebrates; their diet varies based on what is readily available to them – even if this doesn’t fall under their normal category of consumption. They will sample anything that comes their way, even if it falls outside their norm – they also bury food items to ensure future meals!
Hyena jaws have powerful claws capable of ripping through nearly anything, though they won’t eat hair or horns. Hyenas’ stomach juices contain special bacteria which neutralize toxic substances found in decomposing flesh allowing them to safely scavenge carcasses which other animals might avoid.
Spotted hyenas live in structured groups known as clans that may include up to 80 individuals. Clans are matriarchal with females ranking higher than males within the hierarchy of their group, led by an alpha female leader.
Spotted hyenas are notorious for being thieves and bandits; yet these formidable predators can also be effective hunters. Hyenas employ a distinct hunting strategy by testing the strength and endurance of their prey by watching its movements and behavior; once this process has taken place, a hyena will stalk it, waiting until signs of weakness show themselves before moving in on it to kill it.
Female hyenas give birth on average twice per year and nurse their young in private dens before moving them to a communal nursery, usually an abandoned hole previously used by other wildlife such as aardvarks. Mother hyenas take great pride in raising their offspring as well as sharing in collecting and preparing food together.
Spotted hyenas typically do not hunt each other, though if unable to catch prey items alone they may join forces with another hyena or large predator to catch it together. Apex predators such as lions may kill hyenas while competing over territory or prey items.
The hyena is an intriguing yet misunderstood mammal. While popular culture often portrays them as predatory scavengers, hyenas play an integral part in Africa’s ecosystem and should not be ignored when on safari – keep an eye out for these intelligent and cunning creatures; their intelligence, sociality and care for young make them worth watching!
Habitat
Hyenas have long been seen as nature’s thugs, condemned across cultures and continents for their ability to steal other animals’ dinner. But they’re far more than just the buffoonish creatures from The Lion King; recent fieldwork demonstrates they’re highly social creatures with complex brains capable of solving problems collectively – critical characteristics in successfully hunting down prey, intimidating lions, raising cubs or raising themselves from birth.
Spotted hyenas live in matrilineal clans made up of 8 to 80 individuals that are matrilineally related and matrilineally related. A female hyena typically leads the clan with dominant males taking second place behind newborn cubs – an unusual circumstance in large carnivores!
Clan territories and subgroups are divided up according to dominance hierarchies, designed to protect food resources and den sites. Hyenas may inhabit both open country as well as woodland settings; most commonly found near water sources where they scavenge regularly.
Namibia’s Chobe National Park is home to numerous spotted hyenas that feed on migrating herds of zebra and impala; they also hunt giraffe, elephant, buffalo, wildebeest as well as topi, bushbuck, Thomson’s gazelle, gerenuks and sables. Kenya’s Masai Mara boasts particularly abundant populations during migration seasons where huge herds of wildebeest and zebra pass through. Spotted hyenas can often be seen feeding off of herds of both species passing through.
Female hyenas are capable of attracting multiple males for mating parties and giving birth to one to three cubs (on average two). While they are born in private dens, two to six weeks after they’re born their mother will move them into communal dens created by other wildlife such as aardvarks for more safety – providing rich milk supply until her young are independent enough.
Hyena pseudo-penis makes it possible for them to simultaneously urinate, mate and give birth – making birthing less risky than in other mammals with longer gestation periods. Unfortunately, birthing can still be deadly with up to 10% of first-time hyena mothers dying during the labor process.