- Fact 2 - There are four species of
Hyenas:
- Striped Hyena - The striped hyena
inhabits Southern Asia and a large part of Africa
- Brown Hyena - The brown hyenas are
found in Southern Africa
- Spotted Hyena - The Spotted hyenas
are found in West to East and southern Africa
- Aardwolf - A striped hyena of
southeast Africa that feeds chiefly on insects
- Fact 3 - Description: They are
dog-like animals with a sloping body, as their front legs are
longer than their hind legs. They have a short, sandy coat,
covered with dark brown spots or stripes on the body and legs
- Fact 4 - Hyenas are well known for
the sound resembling laughter that they make when excited, hence
the expression "Laughing Hyena"
- Fact 5 - They are large and strong,
but cowardly
- Fact 6 - Hyenas are nocturnal in
their habits
- Fact 7 - Hyenas consume about 3-6kg
of meat daily
- Fact 8 - Spotted Hyenas (Crocuta
crocuta) stats and
facts
- Weight: 45-82kg
- Length: 1.3-1.85m
- Female hyenas are about 10% larger
than males
- Habitat:
Savannah, desert fringe and the edges of tropical rainforest
- Lifespan: 25 years
- Diet: Hyenas are carnivores eating
carrion and hunting antelopes, zebras and buffaloes
- Fact 9 - Hyenas live in groups
called clans, which can range in size from 5-80 members
- Fact 10 - Stripped Hyena are a
long-haired with large, pointed ears. They are gray to straw-colored
with a black muzzle and black stripes on their head, body and
legs
- Fact 11 - Their jaws are extremely
strong as compared to their body size
- Fact 12 - The diet of the aardwolf
almost completely consists of termites, other insect larvae and
carrion
- Fact 13 - The aardwolf looks like a
very small striped hyena
- Fact 14 - Litters - 2 -4 cubs
- Fact 15 - Hyenas are built for
endurance and can travel large distances
- Fact 16 - The alpha female of a
Spotted Hyena clan is known as the matriarch
- Fact 17 - Hyenas can go for several
days without water
- Fact 18 -
Endangered Species:
- The Spotted Hyena is listed by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as
'conservation dependent'
- Conservation Dependent - CD (Status: At Lower Risk) - Animals are not severely threatened, but must depend on conservation programs. This is no longer a valid category under IUCN 3.1
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