Pictures and facts about the Spotted hyena

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Spotted hyena

Order : Carnivora
Family : Hyaenidae
Subfamily : Hyaeninae
Species : Crocuta crocuta

The Spotted Hyena or 'Laughing Hyena' (Crocuta crocuta) is the largest species of hyena. Its coat is sandy, yellowish or gray with dark brown spots on most of its body. Males are built lighter than females, males can weigh from 45 to 60 kg, while females can weigh 55 to 75 kg on average, but large females have been recorded that weigh up to 90 kilograms. The females are dominant over the males. Spotted hyenas form groups which are called 'clans', which can grow up to 80 members. The size of their territory varies extremely from as small as 40 square kilometers in the Ngorongoro crater to 1000 square kilometers in the Kalahari. The clans defend these territories, but can also make long foraging trips to the neares ungulate herd. This has been labelled a "commuting" system... Among other vocal communication, the Spotted hyena's trademark is the giggling. This is associated with fear or excitement and is often given when an individual is being chased. Its diet consists of a variety of animals, including zebras, gazelles, wildebeest, topi, kongoni, waterbuck, eland, impala, warthog, hares, lions, ostrich eggs, Cape buffalo, bat-eared fox, golden jackal, porcupine, puff adder, domestic animals, termites, afterbirth other hyenas.

Image by rich115, found on Flickr, licensed under Attribution ShareAlike License v. 2.0

Facts about the spotted hyena

SPOTTED HYENA The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is also called the "laughing" hyena and was historically found throughout

Spotted hyenas are nocturnal and crepuscular (active during twilight).

The hyena, Crocuta crocuta, is a predator and scavenger that lives in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

The main enemy of the Spotted Hyena is the lion.

The spotted hyena is a very noisy

x&&i Misunderstood Hyena The Spotted Hyena is perhaps the most amazing, misunderstood mammal of Africa.

Crocuta crocuta is the most numerous large predator in the Serengeti. (Full text)

The Spotted hyena is the most aggressive and vocal of the hyenas. (Full text)

Crocuta crocuta, the spotted hyena, is generally found in the open habitats of Africa south of the Sahara. (Full text)

The spotted hyena is about 45 inches (114 cm) long plus a 13 inch (33 cm) tail. (Full text)

Different from most other animals, female spotted hyenas are dominant over the males and outweigh them by about 3 pounds. (Full text)

Like many social carnivores, spotted hyenas are playful, especially when young. (Full text)

The Jungle: Hyena The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is an African scavenger/predator. (Full text)

The largest and best-known member of the hyena family, the Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is primarily a predator, not a scavenger. (Full text)

Physical Appearance Spotted hyenas are a pale brown color with dark spots all over their back, and a dark brown mask on their face and legs. (Full text)

The Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is the largest and most common hyena species. (Full text)

Scientists have also established that Crocuta crocuta is intelligent, cooperative, playful and bound by a complex social system ruled by females. (Full text)

The spotted hyena is the largest species of hyena. (Full text)

Spotted Hyenas are funny to watch. (Full text)

Spotted hyenas are good opportunistic hunters. (Full text)

The spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) is ruled out as walking on its paws. (Full text)

Spotted HyenaCrocuta crocuta Also Called: Laughing HyenaSpotted hyenas are the only species of hyena with spots. (Full text)

The spotted hyena is a vital part of the South African ecosystem; as predators they serve a vital role in trimming the herds of buffalo, wildebeest and other herbivores, thus preventing overpopulation and dangerous ecological unbalance. (Full text)

Although the spotted hyena is not yet recognized on the endangered species list, it has already been exterminated from parts of South Africa. (Full text)

We spoke to research zoologist Laurence Frank, a member of the Berkeley Project, who is part of a rare research study of hyenas in captivity (spotted hyenas are found in the wild only in Africa, south of the Sahara). (Full text)

· Spotted hyenas are the only mammals to disgorge (like (Full text)

Feeding Habits Spotted Hyenas are most active after dark but are more often seen during the day than any other large carnivore; they kill by running (Full text)