Hyenas are not as common as their tiger and lion cousins – and some might even argue on where they are part of the feline, wolf, or dog family – but they are a prominent carnivore well recognised by unsuspecting preys. Hyenas are a part of the wolf family, and could be spot by from afar with their spotty exteriors.
The Hyena species lives in areas heavily concentrated in Africa, Middle East, Asia, and several corners of India. These carnivorous animals are part of the Hyaenidae family – which is then divided into four subspecies: Crocuta, Hyaena, Parahyaena, and Proteles. They have long pointy ears and a distinct nose structure much similar to their dog counterparts. The way they hunt is as messy as well – clawing and biting their way. Hyenas are also well known for their abilities to climb.
However, despite being a part of the wolf family, Hyenas show closer genetical relations with the feline family: particularly from the Subordo Feliformia family. They are sly and well notorious for their smarts. They would manipulate their preys and hunt them easy. In general, Hyenas are interesting animals with many different interesting features – and in this article, we would be just covering about that. So, without further ado, here are some interesting facts about Hyena.
1. Their Habitats
A Hyena’s natural habitat lies in the outskirts of the Sabanas, grassy areas, forests, and deserts. Regardless of the climate these Hyenas’ reside in, these wolves would construct their nests and sanctuaries in elevated areas which connects to underground pavements. Hyenas are meticulous with their living spaces – which must provide shelter and easy access to hunt their preys. A Hyena’s living spaces should be left undisturbed to prevent provocation and the contribution to their extinction. For professional sanctuary individuals, most of who shelter Hyenas would imitate the artificial living spaces according to their natural habitats.
2. Their Personalities
Hyenas are spunky carnivores with a huge personality. Though their personalities may vary with every Hyenas, they are active and full of energy during the night time – making them part of the nocturnal family. These Hyenas also hunt in packs to help hunt easier and protect one another from preys. These packs vary in size and forms, but generally, spotted Hyenas would form hunting packs of 80 wolves. The bigger pacts they make, the larger the territory they target for their preys.
However, despite the seemingly tight solidarity amongst their packs, Hyenas could turn to one another in certain situations such as the lack in hunt or the fight for domestication. They are individualistic carnivores by nature, so any form of disagreement could lead on to a bigger fight. Due to this, professional conservationist would require extra time and effort to place several Hyenas in the same living spaces.
3. Feed
As mentioned before, Hyenas are huge carnivores that mostly feed on leftover preys or smaller ones. They are flexible in their feed choices – which could be the reason behind their low mortality rates. Professionals dealing with their sanctuaries should keep in mind that regardless of the feed that is provided to them, they must provide the basic nutritional needs to help Hyenas go through their day. This includes a large dose of protein and healthy fats to keep their energy going.
This energy is heavily required to help them hunt on long hours of the day and at night. As previously mentioned, Hyenas would also hunt during night time – so they would require a lot of energy to move around. Feed such as small animals and mammals are viable choices to consider.
4. Their Species
As previously mentioned, the Hyenas are a part of the wolf family, and could be divided into four subspecies: The spotted Hyenas (Crocuta Crocuta), Brown Hyenas (Hyaena Brunnea), Camo Hyenas (Hyaena Hyaena), and Aardwolf Hyenas (Proteles Cristatus). These four subspecies could be differentiated by their physical features and the patterns of their furs. Generally, they do not require special care for every sub species – but this may vary and would need more research on the matter.
Usually, an adult spotted Hyenas can weigh up to 95kg. On the other end, an Aardwolf Hyena – being the smallest of the subspecies – can suffice with small insects as their main feed. In order to explore the different features and needs each subspecies may have, it is advised that more research should be done on the matter.
5. Reproduction
Like most mammals and other animals, Hyenas would need a male and female pair to reproduce small offsprings of their own. They reproduce sexually, much like their other wolf counterparts – but female Hyenas would only require 3 months of pregnancy before giving birth. Another interesting fact to note is that female Hyenas would only mate with a male partner from another pack. In terms of the ideal age and conditions relies on each Hyena and their capabilities – so further research is advised on the matter.
6. Mortality and Age
Generally, a healthy Hyena could live up to 20-25 years of age in the wild. However, some could even live up to 40 years of age when fed the right nutritional diets and commited to a routine check up. Hyenas live a long age, but the camo Hyenas live a shorter one – usually only reaching 12 years in the wild. However, this depends on each Hyena’s circumstances and health – so these facts may vary.
7. Sexual Dimorfisme
Particularly for spotted Hyenas, an adult male would weigh roughly around 45-60 kg, whereas their female counterpart would weigh around 55-75kg. As pointed out, female Hyenas generally weigh more than their male counterparts – and would go through puberty as early as 2-3 years. Female Hyenas age faster than male Hyenas – though, again, the rate may vary according to each Hyena’s health, genetics, and circumstances. In order to understand if the Hyena’s you know are late or early bloomers, medical professionals should be able to give you strong advises.
8. Reproducing Offsprings
Generally, a female Hyena would be able to reproduce one or two offsprings a year. Female Hyenas will give birth at a nest they’ve constructed underground to prevent predators from attacking. This may vary for different individual Hyenas, but this is generally the case for all.
This marks the end of the list of interesting facts on the Hyena Animal. Hyenas are majestic and wild creatures filled with interesting habits and facts. They play an important role in the ecosystem and are generally an interesting species to study. We hope that the information above will provide any form of knowledge for you!