Spotted Hyaena - WildlifeCampusThis varies from hyaena to hyena. The former is a more modern and correct variation and is the one used for formal classification. This text uses this

– Game Ranging / Field Guiding Course

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Mammals © Copyright

Module # 7 – Component # 13

Spotted Hyaena

Classification

Spotted Hyaena are classified in the following manner: Kingdom - Animalia

Phylum - Chordata Class - Mammalia

Order - Carnivora Family - Hyaenidae Genus - Crocuta

Species - crocuta

Common names:

English - Spotted Hyaena German - Gefleckte Hyane French - Hyene Tachetee

Afrikaans - Gevlekte Hiena Zulu - Mpifi

Swahili - Fisi



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Myth & Legend The Shona tribe have a strong dislike for this animal, and the reasons why are

clarified in the following short rendition of one of their superstitions.

To hear a hyaena shrieking close to the krall symbolises the death of a relative. Should this loathsome creature be seen near the kraal, a Nganga or witch doctor is called to throw the bones to determine the reason for the creature’s visit,

although its presence always portends evil. Also, a hyaena laughing near the kraal in broad daylight foretells the destruction of the kraal and all inside it.



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Vital Statistics

Males Females

Shoulder height 80.cm (32in.) 79.4cm (32in.)

Hindquarter height 70cm (28in.) 65cm (28in.)

Weight 62.5Kg (138lbs.)

68.2Kg (150lbs.)

Gestation period 3 months

Maximum speed 50 k.p.h. (32m.p.h.)

Killing technique Variable, often by disembowelment

Social grouping Matriarchal clan (see below)

Longevity 25 years

Record Auction Price: R 500.00

Spotted Hyaena - Crocuta crocuta



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Introduction

Spotted hyaenas are exceptionally powerfully built in their forequarters, and

have a sloping back with reasonably insubstantial hindquarters. They have a massive head containing the most powerful jaws of any land animal, mammal

or otherwise.

Hyaena are classed as carnivores, and merit their own unique family. They are not a sub-set of the dog family (Canidae). There is no consensus in terms of the

spelling of their common name. This varies from hyaena to hyena. The former is a more modern and correct variation and is the one used for formal classification. This text uses this spelling.



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Hunting and Scavenging The Spotted hyaena’s foraging behaviour can be summed up thus: It will

scavenge whenever possible, and as a predator will always select the most easily captured prey. However, hyaenas are quite capable of taking down a fully grown

healthy bull wildebeest. The spotted hyaenas hunt in groups, and their most commonly seen technique is in making their quarry run until exhaustion. This is done by suddenly loping toward a concentration of animals, and watching for

their reaction. Many prey species seem to allow hyaenas to get quite close to them. Thus, a sudden rush frightens them causing them to break. As they do, the hunters

can observe any stragglers, young animals or those that are sick or injured.

Once a chase is initiated, a lone hunter will be joined by other members of its clan, and the animal is run down. Spotted hyaenas have no specific killing bite, like

leopard or lion, but bring their prey down by biting its legs and disembowelling it. When a medium to large group of animals is involved in the hunt, prey is simply pulled down by their sheer weight of numbers and viciously torn apart. Although

most co-operative hunting begins spontaneously like this, deliberately staged pack hunts do occur. A female hyaena usually leads these hunts, but there are mostly

more male participants. In these ‘ways of the wild’, spotted hyaenas will take down, wildebeest, zebra, most antelope, and will also eat, birds, snakes, tortoises and any carrion they find.



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This includes regularly chasing other predators off their kills, including lion. Lion and hyaenas have been dubbed eternal enemies, and fight viciously whenever they meet. The outcome usually depends upon how many of the large

male lions are with the pride when a fight ensues. Fatalities are common on both sides. During one particular study, it was found that lions were responsible for at

least 50 % of all hyaena deaths by any means. In this fashion, some have called hyaenas cowards of a sort. The greater their number, the bolder they

become. For hyaenas to vanquish lion they generally must outnumber them quite substantially.



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The extent to which Crocuta crocuta will either hunt or scavenge is entirely dependent on its habitat, prey density and other predator pressure. Where they are the dominant carnivore, most their meals must come from hunting, and this

figure will decline with increased predator pressures. The exact ratios of scavenging to hunting are too varied from region to region to make good scientific

reporting.

There are several recorded cases of hyaena killing people, but these are not from hunts. Hyaenas will regularly come into human camp sites when all is quiet, ostensibly to scavenge. People have been injured and killed when these

scavenging hyaenas bite people who are sleeping. Adults generally have a reasonable chance of fighting off a lone hyaena, children being less fortunate.

When walking through the bush hyaena will most often give way to people, unless starved or injured.

Hyaenas bear some resemblance to vultures when on a kill. Their phenomenally strong jaws can crush all bones including the skull. In one Serengeti example,

20 hyaenas were seen to demolish an adult 220 kg [480 lbs.] zebra in 13 minutes, leaving no trace at all. A single adult is capable of fully consuming a new–born ungulate fawn in about two minutes.

Generally speaking, hyaenas tend to be a nocturnal species and have excellent

night vision, but depending on their specific habitat they may just as easily hunt during the day. Hyaenas are dependent on water and will travel considerable

distance to obtain it.



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Social Structure The social organisation of the spotted hyaena is as variable as its diet. They are

highly gregarious, territorial, formed into clans and led by a dominant alpha female. In fact, all females are dominant over all the males, with the exception

of the clan leader’s male offspring. Occasionally, authors have named this society a “sisterhood” This social system is unlike any of the other social carnivores. There is a form of communal care of offspring but this will vary from clan to clan. Often

each female only provides for her own cubs. The whole system, however, is based on open competitiveness. And access to kills and mating opportunities depend on

the ability of one to dominate other members of the clan.

Dominance and aggression within

the clan are based on the members’ relative testosterone levels. The

dominant female, in one very large clan of 70 individuals, was found to have levels of this male hormone six

times higher than the next animal. Dominance is also an inherited

characteristic, with the alpha female’s offspring likely to take over leadership, and the females of her

litters being favoured. This is unless the alpha female dies before her cubs

mature. If this occurs, they lose all status.



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Senses Sight, smell and hearing are all acute in spotted hyaenas, and are important for

foraging, hunting and communication. Their ability to detect that something is wrong with a potential prey is quite remarkable, and is often not something we

would pick up. However, when you spend a lifetime watching ungulates as hyaenas do, you are likely to get quite good at it.

In defending any type of territory, having good border indicators is a prerequisite.

One method frequently seen and used by hyaenas is pasting. This is achieved with protrudable anal glands that are pasted along tall grass stems or any other

object at the face height of hyaenas. This pasting secretion can be recognised by humans, and seems to us to have a soapy small. The behaviour is seen in animals as young as two months, although it is the adults that are seen to go off in groups

to paste along territorial boundaries.



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Communication

Spotted hyaenas are probably one of the noisiest of all African mammals. At

least 11 highly distinctive and remarkably varied calls are recognised. These calls include:

a whoop

an ooooooo

a giggle

a yell

a growl

a rattling growl

a grunt

a groan

a whine

a whinny

a squeal.

The giggle is a high cracking laugh, which gives this animal its alternate name of

the laughing hyaena. It is usually made by an individual that is being chased or harassed, and is indicative of anxiety and fear.



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Reproduction The reproductive organs of this enigmatic mammal continue in the vein of

being...…. somewhat odd. The female genitalia bear more than a passing resemblance to the males. This has occurred through fusion and elongation of

the females’ clitoris. This caused early naturalists to believe that the spotted hyaenas were in fact hermaphrodites, or all males.

Active courtship may continue for a week or more. During this time, successively higher ranked males succeed one another, and move nearer to the interested

female. When she finally consents, the alpha male follows her nose to tail, awaiting an opportunity. At this time her genitalia will be completely retracted. After copulation, the male rests his head and body heavily on his partner, apparently

exhausted.

Averages of two young are born after a three-month gestation. Cubs are born in a private den, but are moved to a communal den after 10 days. By two and a half months the cubs are beginning to eat meat, although they may continue suckling

for a full year. Those young of a high status get to eat meat far more frequently, and thus mature and grow quicker, further enforcing their dominance. At a year

old, they are able to follow the hunt, but only make their first kills six months later when they are fully grown.



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Current Status Fortunately, Spotted Hyaenas do not make an appearance on the endangered

species list and are considered a very successful animal. They are common residents in most big game reserves and are classified as dangerous game.

Spotted Hyaenas have a potential longevity of 25 years.

Documents

Spotted Hyaena - WildlifeCampusThis varies from hyaena to hyena. The former is a more modern and correct variation and is the one used for formal classification. This text uses this