Aardwolf - Land Mammal - The Aardwolf - Ground Mammals Aardwolf - Land Mammal - The Aardwolf - Ground Mammals Popular Pages Follow It's Nature on Facebook Aardwolf The Aardwolf is a very small animal that is reminiscent of the Hyena , but eats insects and flying bugs. Its name means earth wolf in the Afrikaans language and it is also known as a maanhar jackal. It is a very defenseless animal and eats mostly termites and other insets as well as carrion animals. Aardwolf The aardwolf is the only survivor of what was an entire family of animals. The aardwolf looks a great deal like a Hyena but is greatly reduced in size and has a more pointy nose and muzzle area. It has a very unique mane down the middle of its neck and black stripes on a yellow colored fur. The aardwolf is actually fairly tiny in comparison to his other family members, standing just about 50 cm at the shoulder and weighing in at only about 25 pounds. Its teeth and head are very similar to the hyena, although the teeth and tongue are geared toward eating insects.

As the aardwolf gets older it begins to lose teeth however because it eats softer things such as ants, it rarely impacts their ability to feed. The aardwolf possesses two glands at the rear that make musk with which they will mark their territory and use to communicate with other aardwolves. He lives in open areas, dry plains and bush and tends to avoid high altitudes such as mountainous regions. He is very often found ranging where there are larger termite hills in place as this keeps him closer to his food source. Two areas are home to the aardwolf. One being Southern Africa and another at North Eastern Africa. Aardwolves are shy are also nocturnal. They sleep in burrows they dig under the earth by day and hunt insects at night. By night, an aardwolf can eat as many as two hundred thousand ants or termites which it licks up using its sticky, long tongue. The aardwolf is very careful to be certain he does not eat the whole colony but rather will let the mound stay in place and leave the termites to provide for future meals. They will return to the nest repeatedly over time, and can memorize where the nests are.

Once in a while they will feed on small birds and lizards as well as termites. Aardwolves have from one to five little ones, which are called cubs after a gestation of about 100 days. Baby Aardwolfs They spend about eight weeks in the den and will then go out with mother to hunt termites. After three months, they begin supervised foraging and by four months are normally independent. Aardwolves can live up to about fifteen years. Find out more about the Aardwolf over at Wikipedia » See what you can find... Tristan Why is this animal endangered???Please help I need help!!!!! Foxcaty thank you, i thought they were bigger, now i know You May Also Like... Striped Hyena | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants SPECIES: hyaena ABOUT No dogs here! Hyenas are not members of the dog or cat families. Instead, they are so unique that they have a family all their own, Hyaenidae.

There are four members of the Hyaenidae family: the striped hyena, the “giggly” spotted hyena, the brown hyena, and the aardwolf (it’s a hyena, not a wolf). These magnificent animals are sometimes called the scourge of the Serengeti, but they play an important role: cleanup crew! Striped hyenas are a bit smaller than spotted and brown hyenas and are the least studied. They have a broad head with dark eyes, a thick muzzle, and large, pointed ears. Their muzzle, ears, and throat are entirely black, but their coat may be golden yellow, brown, or gray with black stripes on the body and legs. A mane of long hair grows along the back. The stealthy hyena camouflages well in tall, dry grass. The most striking feature on the hyena is the legs: the front legs are much longer than the hind legs. This gives hyenas their distinctive walk, making them seem like they're always limping uphill. Yet hyenas are agile and can run, trot, and walk with ease.

HABITAT AND DIET Sub-prime real estate: Native to northern Africa, the Middle East, and India, striped hyenas eke out a life in habitat too difficult to live in for other large predators: semideserts, rocky scrublands, and savannas. They avoid true deserts and must have a water source within 6 miles (10 kilometers). Making sure privacy is respected, hyenas scent mark the edges of their territory. With sharp vision, acute hearing (really big ears!), and a keen sense of smell, hyenas patrol their territory nightly. Hyenas have a large head and strong jaws filled with huge teeth used to crush bone. Their powerful jaws and strong teeth are a sign of their carnivorous diet. Although they are mostly scavengers, hyenas are also skilled hunters able to take down relatively large prey. Some striped hyenas even prey on sheep, goats, donkeys, and horses. When foraging, striped hyenas move in a zigzag pattern at a slow trot. The striped hyena's diet varies by season. True to its scavenger nature, the hyena eats mammalian carrion whenever possible.

Its massive jaws help the hyena crush and swallow bones, teeth, horns, and hooves—all body parts that other predators leave uneaten. The hyena's digestive system has adapted to maximize the nutritional value of animal remains; only the horns, hooves, and hair are regurgitated. But these animals have a reputation for stealing crops like dates, melons, cucumbers, and peaches (a favorite). They also hunt small reptiles and insects, and are known to catch flying moths, grasshoppers, beetles, and termites. Striped hyenas at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park are fed a fortified meat-based commercial carnivore diet, assorted fruits and vegetables, a mouse or rat, and small bones. FAMILY LIFE Once thought to be solitary, recent studies have shown that in some areas striped hyenas live in small groups of one female and several males. Primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, they rest out of sight during the day in a natural cave or a burrow dug into the hillside. Hyenas have even been known to take over another animal’s den. None too tidy, its lair will be littered with leftover bones!

The striped hyena’s social structure may provide some advantage in protecting food sources and in defending against enemies, such as lions, tigers, leopards, and even spotted hyenas. Their greatest threat, however, comes from humans. Often, striped hyenas are hit by vehicles while eating roadkill. Striped hyena pups certainly do not grow up in the lap of luxury. Not much is known about their secluded family life. Young are typically born at a time when food is plentiful. After a three-month gestation, mother hyena finds a cave or other sheltered place to give birth. Usually two to four fluffy babies are born with markings similar to the adults, but without the mane of hair along the back and with eyes and ears sealed. They are helpless at birth, can barely crawl, and don't open their eyes for five to nine days. They are ready to greet the world at about two weeks old. They nurse for over one year. The young carnivores taste their first solid food at about one month old; when the mother or some of the males in her group bring food back to the den, the hungry pups bleat with anticipation.

The pups chase, stalk, pounce, and ambush each other for fun and practice for future hunts. They stay with their mother for quite a while to learn proper food gathering and hunting techniques. But when the pups are two years old, she is ready for her offspring to leave, and the youngsters must find a territory all their own. A striped hyena usually travels unnoticed, noiselessly moving through the brush. Its loudest call is a rarely heard cackling howl. The hyena makes successive rapid, brief whinnies or cackles when it is excited. Threat displays with rival hyenas begin with a growl rising to a roar, followed by a low, snapping lunge. Unlike their noisy cousins, the spotted hyenas, striped hyenas are usually silent. Their loudest call is a rarely heard, cackling howl. But body language is a form of communication, too. In an instant, a striped hyena can nearly double in size—or at least appear much larger—by raising the hair along its back! This is not an act of aggression but the hyena’s last effort to "pretend" to be brave and, hopefully, keep what it sees as scary predators farther away.

The position of the ears, tail movement, and body posture also help the hyena communicate its message to others. Hyenas can hear sounds that human ears cannot, and they listen for sounds from other predators that may lead them to a kill that is miles away. They also have a built-in communication system: an anal scent gland to mark territory. Each hyena leaves its own unique scent. Myths, legends, and superstitions surround hyenas. One myth claims that they eat children, yet they are also kept as loyal and trustworthy pets. Legend has it that hyenas are grave robbers, and the habit of placing tombstones on graves in the Near East began in order to prevent the animals from digging up bodies. The people of some cultures use the dried dung of hyenas as a cosmetic face powder, and others believe that the hyena’s tongue and fat have medicinal properties. In other cultures, a striped hyena’s heart is eaten for courage, the whiskers preserved as charms. The hyena’s reputation as a somehow distasteful, unpleasant, or even evil creature has also made its way into popular culture.

The Disney animated movie The Lion King perpetuated the negative reputation of hyenas by portraying them as the “bad guys.” Yet anyone who has studied or worked with hyenas can attest to their intelligence, their cooperative social groups, and their attentive care of their young. We hope you have gained a new perception of the hyena! AT THE ZOO In 1923, a striped hyena from the San Diego Zoo was highlighted in a movie about the effects of opium addiction, Human Wreckage —the image of the hyena represented a “wasted spirit.” Although we don’t consider any animal to be “miserable looking,” the movie’s producer paid our fledgling zoo $200 that was badly needed! Today, the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are home to Sudanese striped hyenas, which serve as animal ambassadors. When guests are fortunate enough to see them, the striped hyenas are an amazing sight to behold, and our ambassadors have a profoundly positive effect on our guests. Although preconceived ideas have some people thinking that hyenas are ugly and vicious, once they meet one close up at the Safari Park or the Zoo, they change their minds immediately.

A trainer heard a child leave one of the Park’s hyena animal encounters saying, "I don't think I will have bad dreams about hyenas anymore." CONSERVATION The striped hyena is not considered very aggressive and usually avoids contact with other animals. Misunderstood and viewed as dangerous or destructive, it is poisoned, trapped, or shot for supposedly preying on livestock or raiding farms. As populations of other large carnivores decline, so does the food they leave behind that striped hyenas scavenge. Some people even mistakenly believe the hyena's body parts can be used as medicine for humans. Once numerous, the striped hyena population is dwindling and has disappeared from some areas altogether. The Barbary hyena Hyaena hyaena barbara, which lives in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, is endangered. Yet, we have much to learn from hyenas. For example, they seem to be immune to certain diseases, such as rabies and anthrax. By studying their immune system, we might find cures for humans. You can help us bring species back from the brink by supporting the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy . Together we can save and protect wildlife around the globe.

LIFE SPAN Hiena | Article about Hiena by The Free Dictionary Hiena | Article about Hiena by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Medical , Wikipedia . hyena (hī-ē`nə), carnivorous, chiefly nocturnal mammal of the Old World family Hyaenidae. Although doglike in appearance, hyenas are more closely related to civets (family Viverridae) and cats (family Felidae) than to dogs (family Canidae). The front legs of a hyena are longer than the hind ones, giving the back a sloping appearance. Despite their reputation as scavengers, hyenas are also skillful hunters; they can crush bones with their strong teeth and jaws. They sleep by day, in caves or burrows. Hyenas range over most of Africa and SW Asia. Three species are generally recognized. The spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta, of Africa S of the Sahara, is the largest and boldest species; it stands 2 1-2 ft (76 cm) high at the shoulder and has a gray coat with irregular patches.

It is also known as the laughing hyena, because of its cry, which resembles maniacal laughter. Often abroad in the day as well as at night, it pursues game in packs and even invades camps and villages in search of food. The females are dominant and more aggressive, outranking the males in the pack. The smaller striped hyena, Hyaena hyaena, of Asia and N Africa and the brown hyena, or strand wolf, H. brunnea, of S Africa are shyer and more nocturnal and solitary in their habits. The former is grayish brown with darker stripes; the latter is dark brown over most of the body. The aardwolf aardwolf , carnivore of the hyena family. The aardwolf, Proteles cristatus, resembles the true hyena but is smaller and more delicate. It has less powerful teeth and jaws and five instead of four toes on its forepaws. ..... Click the link for more information. is the fourth member of the hyena family.

Hyenas are classified in the phylum Chordata Chordata , phylum of animals having a notochord, or dorsal stiffening rod, as the chief internal skeletal support at some stage of their development. Most chordates are vertebrates (animals with backbones), but the phylum also includes some small marine invertebrate animals. ..... Click the link for more information. , subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Hyaenidae. Bibliography See H. Kruuk, The Spotted Hyena (1972); J. L. Gittleman, ed., Carnivore Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution (1989). Hyena (Hyaenidae), a family of predatory mammals. In external appearance hyenas somewhat resemble dogs. Their trunks are short, higher at the front than at the back; their necks are thick and their heads are very large, with long, erect ears, up to 13 cm. They have large teeth and paws with four toes.

The tail is short and bushy, and the body is covered with coarse, bristly fur that in some species forms a hanging mane, up to 20 cm long, along the backbone. Overall, hyenas have a gray or brown coloring with dark stripes or spots. Hyenas are widespread in almost all of Africa and in Middle and Southwest Asia, as far east as the Bay of Bengal. In the USSR they are found in Transcaucasia and in Middle Asia. Usually they inhabit semidesert and desert regions, but, less often, they may be found in steppes with a covering of shrub thickets and in savannas or woods growing in river valleys in desert and semidesert regions. In Middle Asia they prefer uninhabited areas, but in Africa they attach themselves to settlements. They lead a nocturnal life and feed mainly on large carrion, gnawing bones inaccessible to other predators. Much less often hyenas attack wild ungulates and domestic livestock. Instances are known of their attacking humans (children). They are solitary, joining in groups only near carrion. Hyenas are in heat during the rainy season in tropical Africa and at the end of winter and beginning of spring in North Africa and Asia.

The female bears between two and five offspring, lighter in color than adult hyenas and covered with short fur. The hyena family consists of three genera, divided into four species. The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is the most widespread and may be found in almost all of Africa, in Southwest Asia as far east as the Bay of Bengal, and in the USSR in Transcaucasia and Middle Asia. They have bodies about 1 m in length and are gray with dark lateral stripes. The brown hyena (H. brunnea) may be found in southern Africa. It is dark brown and has lateral stripes on its legs. Its fur is coarse and long and hangs from its sides. The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) inhabits southern and eastern Africa. It is the largest of the hyena family (body 130 cm long and height at the shoulders about 80 cm) and has small dark spots on its sides. The earth wolf (Proteles cristatus) inhabits southern and eastern Africa. It is the smallest of the hyena family and lives on ants and termites. The hyena population is falling sharply because of the decreasing number of wild ungulates.

REFERENCES Ognev, S. I. Zveri Vostochnoi Evropy i Severnoi Azii, vol. 2. Moscow-Leningrad, 1931. Vinogradov, B. S., E. N. Pavlovskii, and K. K. Flerov. Zveri Tadzhikistana, ikh zhizn’ i znachenie dlia cheloveka. Moscow-Leningrad, 1935. I. I. S Dahomey, Republic of References in periodicals archive ?

Turquia, un puente natural que conecta a Europa y Asia, era historicamente el hogar de una miriada de especies mamiferas que incluia un grupo complejo de carnivoros tales como el leon asiatico (Panthera leo persica), el tigre del Mat Caspio (Panthera tigris virgata), el lobo (Canis lupus), la hiena rayada (Hyaena hyaena), el oso cafe (Ursus arctos), el leopardo de Anatolia (Panthera pardus tulliana), el lince euroasiatico (Lynx lynx), el caracal (Felis caracal), la nutria euroasiatica (Lutra lutra), el chacal dorado (Canis aureus), la zorra roja (Vulpes vulpes), el gato montes europeo (Felis silvestris caucasica), la comadreja alpina (Martes martes) y otras especies mas pequenas de mustelidos. Hyena - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hyena This article is about the family of animals.

For other uses, see Hyena (disambiguation) . Hyenas Protelidae Flower, 1869 Hyenas or hyaenas (from Greek ὕαινα hýaina [1] ) are the animals of the family Hyaenidae Script error: No such module "IPAc-en". of the feliform suborder of the Carnivora . With only four extant species, it is the fifth-smallest biological family in the Carnivora, and one of the smallest in the class Mammalia . [2] Despite their low diversity, hyenas are unique and vital components of most African ecosystems. [3] Although phylogenetically they are closer to felines and viverrids , hyenas are behaviourally and morphologically similar to canines in several aspects ; both hyenas and canines are non arboreal , cursorial hunters that catch prey with their teeth rather than claws. (In fact, cheetah have been known to climb trees to escape hyenas. [4] ) Both eat food quickly and may store it, and their calloused feet with large, blunt, nonretractable nails are adapted for running and making sharp turns.

However, the hyenas' grooming, scent marking, defecating habits, mating, and parental behaviour are consistent with the behaviour of other feliforms. [5] Hyenas, especially spotted hyenas , are known for killing as much as 95% of the animals they eat, [6] and for driving off leopards or lionesses from their kills, although they have long been regarded as being cowardly scavengers. Hyenas are primarily nocturnal animals, but sometimes venture from their lairs in the early-morning hours. With the exception of the highly social spotted hyena, hyenas are generally not gregarious animals, though they may live in family groups and congregate at kills. [7] Hyenas first arose in Eurasia during the Miocene period from viverrid -like ancestors, and soon became well known as being of two distinct types: the lightly built dog-like hyenas and the robust bone-crushing hyenas. Although the dog-like hyenas thrived 15 million years ago (with one taxon having colonised North America), they became extinct after a change in climate along with the arrival of canids into Eurasia.

Of the dog-like hyena lineage, only the insectivorous aardwolf survived, while the bone-crushing hyenas (whose extant spotted , brown and striped hyenas ) became the undisputed top scavengers of Eurasia and Africa. [8] Hyenas feature prominently in the folklore and mythology of human cultures with which they are sympatric . Hyenas are commonly viewed as frightening and worthy of contempt, and are associated with witchcraft, because their body parts are used as ingredients in traditional medicine . In some cultures, hyenas are thought to influence people’s spirits, rob graves, and steal livestock and children. [9] Contents Origins[ edit ] Hyenas originated in the jungles of Miocene Eurasia 22 million years ago, when most early feliform species were still largely arboreal . The first ancestral hyenas were likely similar to the modern banded palm civet ; one of the earliest hyena species exhumed, Plioviverrops , was a lithe, civet-like animal that inhabited Eurasia 20–22 million years ago, and is identifiable as a hyaenid by the structure of the middle ear and dentition.

The lineage of Plioviverrops prospered, and gave rise to descendants with longer legs and more pointed jaws, a direction similar to that taken by canids in North America . [8] Rise and fall of the dog-like hyenas[ edit ] Skull of Ictitherium viverrinum, one of the "dog-like" hyenas. American Museum of Natural History The descendants of Plioviverrops reached their peak 15 million years ago, with more than 30 species having been identified. Unlike most modern hyena species, which are specialised bone-crushers, these dog-like hyenas were nimble-bodied, wolfish animals; one species among them was Ictitherium viverrinum, which was similar to a jackal . The dog-like hyenas were very numerous; in some Miocene fossil sites, the remains of Ictitherium and other dog-like hyenas outnumber those of all other carnivores combined. The decline of the dog-like hyenas began 5–7 million years ago during a period of climate change, which was exacerbated when canids crossed the Bering land bridge to Eurasia.

One species, Chasmaporthetes ossifragus , managed to cross the land bridge into North America, being the only hyena to do so. Chasmopothertes managed to survive for some time in North America by deviating from the cursorial and bone-crushing niches monopolised by canids, and developing into a cheetah -like sprinter. Most of the dog-like hyenas had died off by 1.5 million years ago. [8] Bone-crushing hyenas[ edit ] By 10–12 million years ago, the hyena family had split into two distinct groups; that of the dog-like hyenas and the bone-crushing hyenas. The arrival of the ancestral bone-crushing hyenas coincided with the decline of the similarly built but unrelated Percrocutidae family. The bone-crushing hyenas survived the devastating changes in climate and the arrival of canids, which wiped out the dog-like hyenas, though they never crossed into North America, as their niche there had already been taken by the Borophaginae family.

By 5 million years ago, the bone-crushing hyenas became the dominant scavengers of Eurasia, primarily feeding on large herbivore carcasses felled by sabre-toothed cats . One genus, Pachycrocuta , was a 200 kg (440 lb) mega-scavenger that could splinter the bones of elephants . With the decline of large herbivores by the late ice age, Pachycrocuta was replaced by the smaller Crocuta. [8] Rise of modern hyenas[ edit ] Skeletons of a striped hyena and a spotted hyena , two species of the "bone-crushing" hyenas. The aardwolf can trace its lineage directly back to Plioviverrops 15 million years ago, and is the only survivor of the dog-like hyena lineage. Its success is partly attributed to its insectivorous diet, for which it faced no competition from canids crossing from North America. Its unrivaled ability to digest the terpene excretions from soldier termites is likely a modification of the strong digestive system its ancestors used to digest fetid carrion. [8] The striped hyena may have evolved from H.

namaquensis of Pliocene Africa . Striped hyena fossils are common in Africa, with records going back as far as the Middle Pleistocene and even to the Villafranchian . As fossil striped hyenas are absent from the Mediterranean region, it is likely that the species is a relatively late invader to Eurasia, having likely spread outside Africa only after the extinction of spotted hyenas in Asia at the end of the Ice Age . The striped hyena occurred for some time in Europe during the Pleistocene, having been particularly widespread in France and Germany . It also occurred in Montmaurin , Hollabrunn in Austria , the Furninha Cave in Portugal and the Genista Caves in Gibraltar . The European form was similar in appearance to modern populations, but was larger, being comparable in size to the brown hyena . [10] The spotted hyena diverged from the striped and brown hyena 10 million years ago. [11] Its direct ancestor was the Indian Crocuta sivalensis, which lived during the Villafranchian. [12] Ancestral spotted hyenas probably developed social behaviours in response to increased pressure from rivals on carcasses, thus forcing them to operate in teams.

Spotted hyenas evolved sharp carnassials behind their crushing premolars, therefore they did not need to wait for their prey to die, as is the case for brown and striped hyenas, and thus became pack hunters as well as scavengers. They began forming increasingly larger territories , necessitated by the fact that their prey was often migratory, and long chases in a small territory would have caused them to encroach into another clan's turf. [8] Spotted hyenas spread from their original homeland during the Middle Pleistocene, and quickly colonised a very wide area from Europe, to southern Africa and China . [12] With the decline of grasslands 12,500 years ago, Europe experienced a massive loss of lowland habitats favoured by spotted hyenas, and a corresponding increase in mixed woodlands. Spotted hyenas, under these circumstances, would have been outcompeted by wolves and humans , who were as much at home in forests as in open lands—and in highlands as in lowlands. Spotted hyena populations began to shrink after roughly 20,000 years ago, completely disappearing from Western Europe between 11 and 14 thousand years ago, and earlier in some areas.

[13] Genera of the Hyaenidae (extinct and recent)[ edit ] Reconstruction of Pachycrocuta brevirostris A spotted hyena of subfamily Hyaeninae The list follows McKenna and Bells Classification of Mammals for prehistoric genera (1997) [14] and Wozencraft (2005) in Wilson and Reeders Mammal Species of the World for extant genera. [15] The Percrocutids are, in contrast to McKenna and Bell's classification, not included as a subfamily into the Hyaenidae, but as the separate family Percrocutidae . Furthermore, the living brown hyena and its closest extinct relatives are not included in the genus Pachycrocuta, but in the genus Hyaena. The Protelinae (Aardwolves) are not treated as a separate subfamily, but included in the Hyaeninae.

Family Hyaenidae † Tongxinictis (Middle Miocene of Asia) †Subfamily Ictitheriinae † Herpestides (Early Miocene of Africa and Eurasia) † Plioviverrops (including Jordanictis, Protoviverrops, Mesoviverrops; Early Miocene to Early Pliocene of Europe, Late Miocene of Asia) † Ictitherium (=Galeotherium; including Lepthyaena, Sinictitherium, Paraictitherium; Middle Miocene of Africa, Late Miocene to Early Pliocene of Eurasia) † Thalassictis (including Palhyaena, Miohyaena, Hyaenictitherium, Hyaenalopex; Middle to Late Miocene of Asia, Late Miocene of Africa and Europe) † Hyaenotherium (Late Miocene to Early Pliocene of Eurasia) † Miohyaenotherium (Late Miocene of Europe) † Lychyaena (Late Miocene of Eurasia) † Tungurictis (Middle Miocene of Africa and Eurasia) † Proictitherium (Middle Miocene of Africa

 and Asia, Middle to Late Miocene of Europe) Subfamily Hyaeninae † Palinhyaena (Late Miocene of Asia) † Ikelohyaena (Early Pliocene of Africa) Hyaena (=Euhyaena, =Hyena; including brown Hyena , Pliohyaena, Pliocrocuta, Anomalopithecus) Early Pliocene (?Middle Miocene) to Recent of Africa, Late Pliocene (?Late Miocene) to Late Pleistocene of Europe, Late Pliocene to recent in Asia † Hyaenictis (Late Miocene of Asia?, Late Miocene of Europe, Early Pliocene (?Early Pleistocene) of Africa) † Leecyaena (Late Miocene and/or Early Pliocene of Asia) † Chasmaporthetes (=Ailuriaena; including Lycaenops, Euryboas; Late Miocene to Early Pleistocene of Eurasia, Early Pliocene to Late Pliocene or Early Pleistocene of Africa, Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene of North America) † Pachycrocuta (Pliocene and Pleist

ocene of Eurasia and Africa) † Adcrocuta (Late Miocene of Eurasia) Crocuta (=Crocotta; including Eucrocuta; Late Pliocene to recent of Africa, Late Pliocene to Late Pleistocene of Eurasia) Subfamily Protelinae Striped hyena skull.

Note the disproportionately large carnassials and premolars adapted for bone consumption Aardwolf skull. Note the greatly reduced molars and carnassials, rendered redundant from insectivory Hyenas have relatively short torsos and are fairly massive and wolf-like in build, but have lower hind quarters, high withers and their backs slope noticeably downward toward their rumps. The forelegs are high, while the hind legs are very short and their necks are thick and short. Their skulls superficially resemble those of large canids, but are much larger and heavier, with shorter facial portions. Hyenas are digitigrade , with the fore and hind paws having four digits each and sporting bulging pawpads. [16] Like canids, hyenas have short, blunt, non-retractable claws. [17] Their pelage is sparse and coarse with poorly developed or absent underfur. Most species have a rich mane of long hair running from the withers or from the head. [16] With the exception of the spotted hyena, hyaenids have striped coats, which they likely inherited from their viverrid ancestors. [8] Their ears are large and have simple basal ridges and no marginal bursa.

[17] Their vertebral column , including the cervical region are of limited mobility. Hyenas have no baculum . [18] Hyenas have an additional pair of ribs than canids, and their tongues are rough like those of felids and viverrids. [19] Males in most hyena species are larger than females, [20] though the spotted hyena is exceptional, as it is the female of the species that outweighs and dominates the male. Also, unlike other hyenas, the female spotted hyena's external genitalia closely resembles that of the male. [21] Their dentition is similar to that of the Felidae , but is more specialised for consuming coarse food and crushing bones. The carnassials , especially the upper, are very powerful and are shifted far back to the point of exertion of peak pressure on the jaws. The other teeth, save for the underdeveloped upper molars , are powerful, with broad bases and cutting edges. The canines are short, but thick and robust.

[18] Labiolingually , their mandibles are much stronger at the canine teeth than in canids, reflecting the fact that hyenas crack bones with both their anterior dentition and premolars, unlike canids, which do so with their post-carnassial molars. [22] The strength of their jaws is such that both striped and spotted hyenas have been recorded to kill dogs with a single bite to the neck without breaking the skin. [23] [24] The spotted hyena is renowned for its strong bite proportional to its size, but a number of other animals (including the Tasmanian devil ) are proportionately stronger. [25] [26] The aardwolf has greatly reduced cheek teeth, sometimes absent in the adult, but otherwise has the same dentition as the other three species. [27] The dental formula for all hyena species is: Template:DentalFormula Hyenas lack perineal scent glands, but have a large pouch of naked skin located at the anal opening. Large anal glands open into it from above the anus . Several sebaceous glands are present between the openings of the anal glands and above them.

[17] These glands produce a white, creamy secretion the hyenas paste onto grass stalks. The odour of this secretion is very strong, smelling of boiling cheap soap or burning, and can be detected by humans several metres downwind. [28] The secretions are primarily used for territorial marking , though both the aardwolf [8] and the striped hyena [29] will spray them when attacked. Spotted hyena cubs at their den Brown hyena cub standing on a path of stones Hyenas groom themselves often like felids and viverrids, and their way of licking their genitals is very cat-like (sitting on the lower back, legs spread with one leg pointing vertically upward). However, unlike other feliforms, they do not "wash" their faces. They defecate in the same manner as other Carnivora, though they never raise their legs as canids do when urinating , as urination serves no territorial function for them. Instead, hyenas mark their territories using their anal glands, a trait found also in viverrids and mustelids , but not canids and felids .

[30] When attacked by lions or dogs, striped [31] and brown hyenas [32] will feign death , though the spotted hyena will defend itself ferociously. [24] The spotted hyena is very vocal, producing a number of different sounds consisting of whoops, grunts, groans, lows, giggles, yells, growls, laughs and whines. [30] The striped hyena is comparatively silent, its vocalisations being limited to a chattering laugh and howling. [33] Mating between hyenas involves a number of short copulations with brief intervals, unlike canids, who generally engage in a single, drawn out copulation . [30] Spotted hyena cubs are born almost fully developed, with their eyes open and erupting incisors and canines, though lacking adult markings. [34] In contrast, striped hyena cubs are born with adult markings, closed eyes and small ears. [35] Hyenas do not regurgitate food for their young and male spotted hyenas play no part in raising their cubs, [30] though male striped hyenas do so.

[36] The striped hyena is primarily a scavenger, though it will occasionally attack and kill any defenseless animal it can overcome, [31] and will supplement its diet with fruits. [37] The spotted hyena, though it also scavenges occasionally, is an active pack hunter of medium to large sized ungulates , which it catches by wearing them down in long chases and dismembering them in a canid-like manner. The aardwolf is primarily an insectivore, specialised for feeding on termites of the genus Trinervitermes and Hodotermes , which it consumes by licking them up with its long, broad tongue. An aardwolf can eat 300,000 Trinervitermes on a single outing. [8] Hyenas are also known for their characteristic calls which sound like laughs. [38] Relationships with humans[ edit ] A striped hyena, as depicted on the Nile mosaic of Palestrina Spotted hyenas vary in their folkloric and mythological depictions, depending on the ethnic group from which the tales originate.

It is often difficult to know whether or not spotted hyenas are the specific hyena species featured in such stories, particularly in West Africa, as both spotted and striped hyenas are often given the same names. In western African tales, spotted hyenas are sometimes depicted as bad Muslims who challenge the local animism that exists among the Beng in Côte d’Ivoire . In East Africa, Tabwa mythology portrays the spotted hyena as a solar animal that first brought the sun to warm the cold earth, while West African folklore generally shows the hyena as symbolizing immorality, dirty habits, the reversal of normal activities, and other negative traits. In Tanzania, there is a belief that witches use spotted hyenas as mounts. [39] In the Mtwara Region of Tanzania, it is believed that a child born at night while a hyena is crying will likely grow up to be a thief. In the same area, hyena faeces are believed to enable a child to walk at an early age, thus it is not uncommon in that area to see children with hyena dung wrapped in their clothes.

[40] The Kaguru of Tanzania and the Kujamaat of Southern Senegal view hyenas as inedible and greedy hermaphrodites. A mythical African tribe called the Bouda is reputed to house members able to transform into hyenas. [41] A similar myth occurs in Mansoa . These " werehyenas " are executed when discovered, but do not revert to their human form when killed. [40] Striped hyenas are often referred to in Middle Eastern literature and folklore, typically as symbols of treachery and stupidity. [42] In the Near and Middle East, striped hyenas are generally regarded as physical incarnations of jinns . [39] Arab writer Al-Quazweeni (1204–1283) spoke of a tribe of people called Al-Dabeyoun meaning "hyena people." In his book Aajeb Al-Makhlouqat he wrote that should one of this tribe be in a group of 1000 people, a hyena could pick him out and eat him.

[42] A Persian medical treatise written in 1376 tells how to cure cannibalistic people known as kaftar, who are said to be “half-man, half-hyena”. [39] Al-Doumairy in his writings in Hawayan Al-Koubra (1406) wrote that striped hyenas were vampiric creatures that attacked people at night and sucked the blood from their necks. He also wrote that hyenas only attacked brave people. Arab folklore tells of how hyenas can mesmerise victims with their eyes or sometimes with their pheromones. [42] In a similar vein to Al-Doumairy, the Greeks , until the end of the 19th century, believed that the bodies of werewolves, if not destroyed, would haunt battlefields as vampiric hyenas that drank the blood of dying soldiers. [43] The image of striped hyenas in Afghanistan, India and Palestine is more varied. Though feared, striped hyenas were also symbolic for love and fertility, leading to numerous varieties of love medicine derived from hyena body parts.

Among the Baluch and in northern India , witches or magicians are said to ride striped hyenas at night. [39] The striped hyena is mentioned in the Bible . The Arab word for the hyena, ḍab` or ḍabu` (plural ḍibā`), is alluded to in a valley in Israel known as Shaqq-ud-Diba` (meaning "cleft of the hyenas") and Wadi-Abu-Diba` (meaning "valley of the hyenas"). Both places have been interpreted by some scholars as being the Biblical Valley of Tsebo`im mentioned in 1 Samuel 13:18. The modern Hebrew word for hyena is tzavoa`, which is similar to the word "tsavua`" meaning "colored". Though the Authorized King James Version of the Bible interprets the term "`ayit tsavua`" (which appears in Jeremiah 12:9) as "speckled bird," Henry Baker Tristram argued that it was most likely a hyena being mentioned.

[44] The vocalisation of the spotted hyena resembling hysterical human laughter has been alluded to in numerous works of literature: "to laugh like a hyæna" was a common simile , and is featured in The Cobbler's Prophecy (1594), Webster's Duchess of Malfy (1623) and Shakespeares As You Like It , Act IV. Sc.1. Attacks on humans[ edit ] File:Hyena attack (1842 woodcut).jpg Illustration from Fraser's magazine showing an artist's impression of a "stag-hound" biting a spotted hyena attacking its master Among hyenas, only the spotted and striped hyena have been known to become man-eaters . Hyenas are known to have preyed on humans in prehistory: Human hair has been found in fossilised hyena dung dating back 195,000 to 257,000 years. [45] Some paleontologists believe that competition and predation by cave hyenas in Siberia was a significant factor in delaying human colonization of Alaska .

Hyenas may have occasionally stolen human kills, or entered campsites to drag off the young and weak, much like modern spotted hyenas in Africa. The oldest Alaskan human remains coincide with roughly the same time cave hyenas became extinct, leading certain paleontologists to infer that hyena predation was what prevented humans crossing the Bering strait earlier. [46] Hyenas readily scavenge from human corpses; in Ethiopia, hyenas were reported to feed extensively on the corpses of victims of the 1960 attempted coup [47] and the Red Terror . [48] Hyenas habituated to scavenging on human corpses may develop bold behaviours towards living people; hyena attacks on people in southern Sudan increased during the Second Sudanese Civil War , when human corpses were readily available to them. [49] Although spotted hyenas do prey on humans in modern times, such incidents are rare. However, according to the SGDRN (Sociedade para a Gestão e Desenvolvimento da Reserva do Niassa Moçambique), attacks on humans by spotted hyenas are likely to be underreported. [50] According to hyena expert Dr.

Hans Kruuk, man-eating spotted hyenas tend to be very large specimens: A pair of man-eating hyenas, responsible for killing 27 people in Mulanje (Mlanje), Malawi in 1962, were weighed at 72 kg (159 lb) and 77 kg (170 lb) after being shot. [51] In 1903, Hector Duff wrote of how spotted hyenas in the Mzimba district of Angoniland would wait at dawn outside people's huts and attack them when they opened their doors. [52] Victims of spotted hyenas tend to be women, children and sick or infirm men: Theodore Roosevelt wrote on how in 1908–1909 in Uganda , spotted hyenas regularly killed sufferers of African sleeping sickness as they slept outside in camps. [53] Spotted hyenas are widely feared in Malawi, where they have been known to occasionally attack people at night, particularly during the hot season when people sleep outside. Hyena attacks were widely reported in Malawi's Phalombe plain, to the north of Michesi Mountain .

Five deaths were recorded in 1956, five in 1957 and six in 1958. This pattern continued until 1961 when eight people were killed. Attacks occurred most commonly in September, when people slept outdoors, and bush fires made the hunting of wild game difficult for the hyenas. [50] [52] An anecdotal news report from the World Wide Fund for Nature 2004 indicates that 35 people were killed by spotted hyenas in a 12-month period in Mozambique along a 20 km stretch of road near the Tanzanian border. [50] In ordinary circumstances, striped hyenas are extremely timid around humans, though they may show bold behaviours toward people at night. [54] On rare occasions, striped hyenas have preyed on humans. In the 1880s, a hyena was reported to have attacked humans, especially sleeping children, over a three-year period in the Iğdır Province , with 25 children and 3 adults being wounded in one year. The attacks provoked local authorities into announcing a reward of 100 rubles for every hyena killed.

Further attacks were reported later in some parts of Transcaucasia, particularly in 1908. Instances are known in Azerbaijan of striped hyenas killing children sleeping in courtyards during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1942, a sleeping guard was mauled in his hut by a hyena in Qalıncaq (Golyndzhakh). Cases of children being taken by hyenas by night are known in southeast Turkmenia's Bathyz Nature Reserve . A further attack on a child was reported around Serakhs in 1948. [55] Several attacks have occurred in India; in 1962, nine children were thought to have been taken by hyenas in the town of Bhagalpur in the Bihar State in a six-week period [44] and 19 children up to the age of four were killed by hyenas in Karnataka , Bihar in 1974.

[56] A consensus on wild animal attacks during a five-year period in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh showed that hyenas had only attacked three people, the lowest figure when compared to deaths caused by wolves , gaur , boar , elephants , tigers , leopards and sloth bears . [57] Hyenas as food and medicine[ edit ] File:Hyena-forcefeed.jpg An Ancient Egyptian mural showing a striped hyena being forcefed Hyenas are used for food and medicinal purposes in some areas, including Muslim nations under the Shafiite school, where hyenas are considered halal because of their omnivorous diet. This practice dates back to the times of the Ancient Greeks and Romans , who believed that different parts of the hyena's body were effective means to ward off evil and to ensure love and fertility. [39] Striped Hyena - Facts, Diet & Habitat Information You are here: Home / Animals / Striped Hyena Striped Hyena Image Source The Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is a medium sized, scavenging mammal found in Africa, the Middle East, West India and the Arabian Peninsula.

There are 3 species of hyena, the Striped Hyena, the Spotted Hyena and the Brown Hyena. The smallest hyena in the family hyaenidae is the Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus). The Aardwolf looks most like the Striped Hyena, however, it is significantly smaller with a more pointed muzzle and sharper ears which are used for listening for harvester termites. There are 5 subspecies hyena: Hyaena hyaena syriaca, Middle East Hyaena hyaena sultana, Arabian Peninsula Hyaena hyaena dubbah, Northeast Africa Hyaena hyaena barbara, Northwest Africa Hyaena hyaena hyaena, India Striped Hyena Description Male and female Striped Hyenas are very similar in appearance, although males are slightly larger. Striped Hyenas generally measure between 1 – 1.15 metres in length excluding the tail (which measures 12.5 inches), and stand 0.66 – 0.75 metres at the shoulder.

Males weigh between 26 – 41 kilograms (57 – 90 pounds) and females weigh 26 – 34 kilograms (57 – 75 pounds). Their coats are generally light grey to beige in colour and they have a black patch on their throat. ADVERTISEMENT Striped Hyenas have vertical stripes on their flanks and black vertical stripes in their legs. Stripes are more prominent in the summer and less defined in the winter. Striped Hyenas, like other Hyena species, have a downward sloping back, a pointed muzzle and pointed ears. Like many animals that inhabit very hot desert climates, their ears radiate heat. When threatened, the mane that extends down the centre of their back can be made erect which makes the hyena appear much larger (38%) and more intimidating to predators. Their tail is long, bushy, covered in long, course hair and is black and white in colour. Each of their paws has four non-retractable, short, blunt claws. Hyenas have large scent glands on their rears. They have broad heads and very large eyes. The Striped Hyenas hinds legs are shorter and heavier than their back legs.

Striped Hyena Habitat The Striped Hyena typically inhabits deserts, semi deserts, scrub forests, woodlands, grasslands, acacia bushlands, rocky terrain and tropical savannas. Family groups live in dens which are usually caves with narrow entrances and are concealed with large boulders. Dens can extend over a distance of 4 – 5 metres. Striped Hyena Diet Striped Hyenas are nocturnal omnivores and will feed upon small animals, insects, fruits (oil willow fruits), melons and dates. They regularly scavenge carrion and the remains of another animals kill. They use their powerful jaws to gnaw and crush bones. Hyenas are capable of digesting parts of prey other animals cannot. Parts such as hooves, horns, hair and ligaments are regurgitated into pellets. They often cache their food such as bones, pieces of flesh, or meat, in shallow holes dug with their snouts. They will also carry any surplus meat found at a scavenger site. Striped Hyenas can drink various types of water such as salt water, fresh water and soda.

Water is consumed every night if it is available, however, the Striped Hyena can survive for long periods of time without water as it is adapted to live in desert conditions. Striped Hyenas forage alone or in pairs. Striped Hyena Behaviour Striped Hyenas are nomadic and will move from water hole to water hole, however, they never move more than 6 miles from a water source. They are solitary hunters but sometimes gather into small family groups, called ‘clans’ to scavenge carrion (dead animal carcasses). They have smaller home ranges than the Spotted or Brown Hyena. Striped Hyenas mark the territories with their scent gland secretions from their anal pouch. Like Brown Hyenas, Striped Hyenas are thought to be less vocal then their spotted cousins although they all have elaborate greeting rituals. Striped Hyena Reproduction There is no specific breeding season for the Striped Hyena. After a gestation period of 90 – 92 days a litter of 2 – 4 helpless cubs are born in nesting dens. Hyena cubs are born blind and their ear canals are closed. Their coats are white to grey with clear black stripes.

After 7 – 8 days, the cubs are able to open their eyes and their teeth develop after 3 weeks. Cubs can eat solid food after a month, however, weaning can vary from 8 weeks to 12 months while learning foraging skills from their mother. Both male and female provide parental care. Female Striped Hyenas have 6 teats whereas the Brown Hyena only has 4. The life span of the Striped Hyena is 24 years in captivity. Striped Hyena Conservation Status The Striped Hyena is classed as ‘Near Threatened’ by the IUCN. Although it is extinct in Europe, it can, on rare occasions be observed in Anatolia, Turkey. It is often hunted or poisoned throughout its range, and although it has a fairly large population, it is scattered over a wide area and often isolated from other populations. Habitat destruction may also be a major concern. More Fascinating Animals to Learn About Hyaenidae - aardwolf, hyenas | Wildlife Journal Junior Home | Wild Files | N.H. Animals | Animals A-Z | Watch Online Hyaenidae - aardwolf, hyenas There are four species in this family.

They have rounded ears; long, bushy tails; large heads; and powerful jaws. Their front legs are longer than their rear legs. The females in this family are larger than the males. Three species in this family have stripes or spots. Three of the species in this family hunt and scavenge for food. The fourth species, the aardwolf, eats termites. The species in this family live in packs that are dominated by a female. The striped hyena is found in northern Africa in dry savannas and rocky deserts. It is smaller than the spotted hyena. It is about 4 feet in length and weighs about 120 pounds. It has a brownish-gray coat with black stripes. It has a dark crest on its back and black stripes on its legs. It hunts for food at night, usually alone or in pairs. It eats small mammals, birds, reptiles, and carrion. The brown hyena is found in Africa from Angola to Mozambique and south to Northern South Africa. It lives in the dry savanna. It has striped legs, long brown fur, and a mane of lighter brown fur on its neck and shoulders. It hunts at night for small mammals, birds, and carrion.

The spotted hyena is the largest member of this family and is known for its laughing call. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is usually found in open habitats. It is 2-5 feet in length and is 2-3 feet in height from its shoulder to its feet. It weighs 120-170 pounds and females are larger than males. The spotted hyena usually hunts alone, but it hunt in packs when going after larger prey. It preys on zebra, wildebeest, topi, and gazelles. It also eats carrion. It has powerful jaws and eats the bones of the animals it kills. The female spotted hyena give birth to 1-4 pups three months after mating. The pups are born their eyes open and with teeth! Shortly after birth, pups that are the same sex begin fighting for dominance! World Status Key The hyena is Africa's most common large carnivore. Source: African Wildlife Foundation Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Aardwolves are only found in Africa. Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Aardwolves are nocturnal insectivores!

They eat harvester termites. Source: The Living Desert Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes The brown hyena has a long shaggy coat and pointed ears. Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Brown Hyena - Hyaena brunnea Brown hyenas are found in the southern tip of Africa. The largest populations are in the southern Kalahari and the coastal areas of southwest Africa. Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Spotted hyenas are good swimmers and can run as fast as 30 mile per hour. Source: San Diego Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes The spotted hyena has sloping shoulders, large ears, and spots! Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Spotted hyenas are scavengers and eat the leftovers of other predators. Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Spotted hyenas occur throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.

Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Spotted hyenas are the largest of the hyenas. Source: Honolulu Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Spotted hyenas are also known as laughing hyenas. Source: Oakland Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Spotted hyena packs are made up of up of 20 or more related individuals. Source: St. Louis Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Striped hyenas were once found from Great Britain to China. Source: San Diego Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes The striped hyena has a brown coat with zebra-like stripes. Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Striped Hyena - Hyaena hyaena The striped hyena is a scavenger. It can digest parts of animals that other species can't handle.

Source: The Living Desert Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Striped Hyena - Hyaena hyaena Striped hyenas are found in Northern and Eastern Africa, the Middle East, India, and Asia extending north to the Caucasus and southern Siberia. Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Facts About Hyenas Facts About Hyenas By Alina Bradford, Live Science Contributor | June 9, 2016 11:54pm ET MORE Spotted hyenas are known for their "laughs," but research shows the hyena giggles are anything but light-hearted. The animals usually make the noise during social conflicts. Credit: Eli M. Swanson There are many misconceptions about hyenas. They aren't just scavengers. Not all of them laugh. They aren't wild dogs. They aren't even related to dogs. Here are some facts to clear up these misconceptions. Size & description Though many people compare hyenas to dogs, they are actually much more like cats.

In fact, they are members of the suborder Feliformia, which is a classification for cat-like carnivores, according to Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). There are four species in the hyena family, and they vary in size. Spotted hyena The spotted hyena is the largest species, and it grows to 4 to 5.9 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) long and 2.5 to 2.6 feet (77 to 81 centimeters) tall from paw to shoulder. They weigh 88 to 190 lbs. (40 to 86 kg). Unlike other species, spotted females are 10 percent heavier than males, according to the San Diego Zoo . The spotted hyena's coat is sandy, yellowish or gray, according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW). It has dark brown or black spots over most of the body. Brown hyena Brown hyenas are the second largest, ranging from 51 to 63 inches (130 to 160 cm) long and weighing 75 to 160 lbs. (34 to 72.6 kg), according to ADW.

Brown hyenas can be distinguished from other hyenas by the long, shaggy hair, which is dark brown or black on the body and tan on the shoulders and neck. Hair on the neck grows to about 12 inches (30.5 cm), in contrast to the short hair on the legs, face and ears. The tail is short and bushy. The forelegs, which are horizontally striped, are much longer and more massively built than the hind legs, giving the brown hyena the appearance of always climbing a hill. Striped hyena The striped hyena is 39 to 45 inches (100 to 115 cm) long and 26 to 30 in (66 to 75 cm) tall from paw to shoulder, according to the San Diego Zoo. Their tails add another 12 to 16 in (30 to 40 cm) and they weigh from 57 to 90 lbs. (26 to 41 kg). Striped hyenas have long hair that is gray to straw-colored. Their muzzle is black, and there are black stripes on the head, torso and legs.

An aardwolf comes out at sunset to forage. Credit: Cathy Withers-Clarke Shutterstock Aardwolf Aardwolves are the smallest species of hyena. They weigh from 17.6 to 30.8 lbs. (8 to 14 kg), and their length ranges from 33 to 41 inches (85 to 105 cm) — and about one-fourth of that is the tail, according to ADW. Aardwolves resemble striped hyenas , with similar fur texture and color. Habitat Where hyenas live depends on their type. Brown hyenas have a very limited range and live only in Southern Africa, including the Kalahari and Namib deserts. They are usually found between the Angola-Namibia border and the Orange River in South Africa. There are two distinct populations of aardwolves. One subspecies lives in southern Zambia, Angola and Mozambique, as well as northeastern Uganda and Somalia. The other subspecies extends into central Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. Striped hyenas range from northern Africa to southern Siberia.

Credit: Dmitri Gomon Shutterstock Spotted hyenas have a little bit larger range and live south of the Sahara Desert. They occur throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and are the most numerous large predators in the Serengeti. The striped hyena has the largest range of all. It lives in north and northeast Africa, the Middle East and Asia, all the way to southern Siberia. Hyenas can adapt to almost any habitat and are found in grasslands, woodlands, savannas, forest edges, sub-deserts and mountains as high up as 13,000 feet (3962.4 m), according to the National Wildlife Foundation . Habits Hyenas are very social and live in groups called clans. Clans can have up to 80 members, according to the National Wildlife Foundation. Not only are spotted hyena females larger, they are also more aggressive and are dominate in their clans. All females rank higher than males in the clan. However, the brown and striped hyenas and aardwolves have male-dominated clans. Diet Aardwolves are insectivores, and they only eat termites.

Though the termites secrete a toxin, aardwolves do not seem to be affected by it, according to ADW. They consume the termites by licking them off surfaces with a flat, sticky tongue. They can consume 30,000 termites every night. The other hyena species are carnivores, which means they only eat meat. They are known to take advantage of other animals' kills for easy meals, but they aren't just scavengers. They also hunt and fill their diet with wildebeest, antelope, hippos, birds, jackals, lizards, fish, snakes, foxes, porcupines, eggs and insects. The size of the meal often is determined by how large the hyena's clan is. Clans work together to take down prey, so the bigger the animal, the more members the clan needs to have for a successful kill. They often hide extra food in watering holes, since nothing is wasted. Hyenas will eat every part of an animal, including bones and hooves. [ Image Gallery: Hyenas at the Kill ] Brown hyenas have long, shaggy hair compared to other species.

Credit: EcoPrint Shutterstock Offspring Matting typically happens outside of the clan. Non-related males and females will mate after a courtship that can last several days. After a gestation of around three months, female hyenas give birth to two to four young, according to ADW. Baby hyenas are called cubs. Mothers in a clan will share the responsibility of nursing each other's young and other members of the can may bring food to the den for the cubs. Cub's eyes are sealed shut for the first five to nine days. At 2 weeks old, they are ready to leave the den, but eat nothing but mother's milk for the first six months and nurse for over a year. At around 2 years, the cubs are considered mature and ready to leave their mother. Hyenas usually live around 10 to 21 years. Classification/taxonomy

Question: What is the only member of the hyena family to feed on termites
Answer: Aardwolf