#spotted hyaena

Although they have some dog-like traits, hyenas are only very distantly related to canines. They’re more closely related to cats. Their closest relatives, though, are actually mongooses (mongeese?) and civets.

Also known as laughing hyenas, spotted hyenas are the largest of four hyena species, weighing up to 140 pounds (63.5 kg)

Hyenas have a bad reputation. Although hyenas in some areas do kill livestock, this infamy is mostly due to myths and legends about them. They are believed to be “grave robbers,” or prone to digging bodies out of graves, as well as being stupid and cowardly. Spotted hyenas are even seen as demonic do to their wild laughing vocalization. The Lion King definitely didn’t help their case either, with spotted hyenas playing the role of dumb antagonists.

Another myth about hyenas is that they are hermaphrodites, meaning the species does not have distinct males and females. They do, but it’s almost impossible to tell them apart since both sexes have male genitalia. The females, which are more dominant than males, likely have male genitals due to high levels of testosterone.

Hyenas are extremely social animals, forming close bonds and living in clans that can reach huge sizes, some with over 100 individuals. They are considered to be some of the most socially complex animals in the world and are highly cooperative with other hyenas, scoring higher than primates on tests that involve working with others.

This cooperative behavior is how they hunt (or steal). Large animals like wildebeest, zebra, antelope, and impala are targeted by groups of hyenas. Hyenas also get food by using large groups to steal prey from other predatory animals like lions, leopards, and African wild dogs. Every part of these stolen carcasses can be eaten, including the bones. This is thanks to extremely powerful jaws that give the hyena a bite force of 1100 PSI (almost as much as a grizzly bear).

Hyenas also make some of the best parents in the animal kingdom. They have up to four cubs per litter, all of which are all born jet black, and they care for them for over a year. The mother also plays with them for hours at a time. They sometimes have to leave their cubs for long periods of time in order to hunt, but their extremely rich milk sustains the cubs through this time. Hyena milk is higher in protein and fat content than any other terrestrial carnivore.

I rate the spotted hyena 26/10 I love them so much I don’t even know what to say

Photo credits:

He sometimes looks like a spotted hyena, so I draw it.

Date September 2019 Theme Spotted Hyaena Entries 11 Winner H. McGill

© Jonathan Costa, All Rights Reserved

© NikuComics, All Rights Reserved

© Rosie Dore (Briarhide), All Rights Reserved

© ByNysha, All Rights Reserved

© ShadowsFuri, All Rights Reserved

© Sarah, All Rights Reserved

© OrangeDrawer, All Rights Reserved

© Zoe, All Rights Reserved

© H. McGill, All Rights Reserved

© AmyGorns, All Rights Reserved

© Alona Vorobeychyk, All Rights Reserved

Throughout the month of September 2019, FaunaFocus featured the spotted hyaena and 11 artists took on the challenge and joined the Free-For-All.

Congratulations to the winner, H. McGill, who wowed the judges with a warm-colored and dramatic piece. Combining elements of 1200 century artwork with photorealism and an ornately bordered composition, H. McGill presented a unique representation of this hyaenid.

H. McGill will be selecting November 2019’s FaunaFocus which will be announced at the end of October 2019’s Free-For-All. Last month’s Free-For-All winner, Shadowind has selected the leopard for October 2019’s FaunaFocus!

  FaunaFocus Calendar | Free-For-All | Free-For-All Archives

#FaunaFocus Although long periods may elapse between drinking, spotted hyaenas are dependent on water and will disperse after the only water source has dried up. #WhoopCackle #SpottedHyaena #SpottedHyena #Hyena #Hyenas

Although long periods may elapse between drinking, spotted hyaenas are dependent on water and will disperse after the only water source has dried up.

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.

• Image | © Ralf Κλενγελ, Some Rights…

#FaunaFocus Legal classification of the spotted hyaena varies from "vermin" in parts of Ethiopia to fully-protected in conservation areas. #WhoopCackle #SpottedHyaena #SpottedHyena #Hyena #Hyenas

Legal classification of the spotted hyaena varies from “vermin” in parts of Ethiopia to fully-protected in conservation areas.

Legal classification of the spotted hyaena varies from vermin in parts of Ethiopia to fully-protected in conservation areas.

Thus, while it is fully protected in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, the spotted hyaena may be legally shot by sport hunters in the…

#FaunaFocus Alpha female spotted hyaenas breed at younger ages, have shorter interbirth intervals, and increased survival of their offspring due to increased access to food. #WhoopCackle #SpottedHyaena #SpottedHyena #Hyena #Hyenas

Alpha female spotted hyaenas breed at younger ages, have shorter interbirth intervals, and increased survival of their offspring due to increased access to food.

Although all females produce litters, alpha females have a younger age at first breeding, shorter interbirth intervals, and increased survival of offspring. These benefits are passed directly to female offspring.

The mechanism…

#FaunaFocus Wire snares set to catch wild herbivores are an important cause of adult spotted hyaena mortality and kill around 400 hyaenas each year, making them responsible for more than half of all adult mortality. #WhoopCackle #FeetsFriday #SpottedHyaena #SpottedHyena #Hyena #Hyenas

Wire snares set to catch wild herbivores are an important cause of adult spotted hyaena mortality and kill around 400 hyaenas each year, making them responsible for more than half of all adult mortality.

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…