In Africa, an inexperienced traveler lies in waitnumerous dangers at every turn. This continent is inhabited by various animals, which it is better not to meet alone. These are not only lions, crocodiles, leopards, cheetahs, rhinoceroses, elephants, but hyenas. In the dark, these swarms of predators are activated, and woe to that traveler, who did not have time to plant a large fire and stock up on firewood for the whole night.
Spotted hyena - the largest representativemammals-scavengers. It most fully embodies all the habits, features and structure inherent in this species. The body length of the spotted hyena is 95 to 166 cm, the tail is 26 to 36 cm, and the height of the withers is about 80 cm.
This view though and has relatively smalldimensions, but dangerous for humans, especially in the pack. These are very ferocious predators. Spotted hyenas are the only mammals whose jaws can create enormous pressure (from 50 to 70 kg per square centimeter). They easily bite the hippo's bones. Spotted hyenas are listed in the Red Book. They live in natural conditions up to 25 years, in captivity - up to forty.
Habitat of spotted hyenas - wild Africa
This species of predators can be found only in Africa.The most common habitat of spotted hyenas is the entire area south of the Sahara. Basically it is the south and east of Africa, near the Cape of Good Hope, in the Ngorongoro Crater, Kenya, Serengeti, Botswana and Namibia.
Wild Africa is rich in desert terrain andjungle, but there are spotted hyenas do not occur. Their favorite places of residence are savannahs. These animals are not very friendly with other representatives of their species, so very often they strip out striped and brown hyenas from their habitable places.
How does a spotted hyena look like?
Representatives of this species have a wide blackmuzzle resembling a dog, with rounded ears. The spotted hyena has very powerful jaws, the back is sloping, the hind legs are shorter than the forelegs. Despite the uneven height of the legs, hyenas can reach speeds of up to 65 km / h. The limbs of predators are four-fingered, claws do not retract. When running, hyenas step on their fingers. Wool in animals is short, except hard hair on the back and neck, which form a mane.
Color
Hyena spotted has several optionscolors. It can be dark or light. The color of the coat is yellow-brown with dark or light brown spots on the body. The muzzle is black, with a reddish tinge on the back of the head. The head is brown, without spots. Legs of limbs with a shade of gray. The tail is brown with a black tip.
Vote
Hyena spotted produces up to 11 different soundsignals. A prolonged howl, more like a "laughter", these animals use for contact between themselves. During duels for prey they "giggle", "laugh", growl and scream. Groans and squeals are used for greetings.
It is interesting that the pack reacts to the sounds of malesrarely or with a delay, but on signals given by females, immediately. Low growl and grunting sounds (with a closed mouth) express aggression. A high "laugh", similar to cackling, is published during excitement or danger (for example, when a hyena is being pursued). Loud and deep vibrating growl predators are used before the attack and in defense, as a threat. When a lion appears, the hyena signals to the brothers with a loud low growl.
Hierarchy in flocks
Wild hyenas live in matriarchal clans, onareas up to 1800 square meters. km. In the schools there is a rigid hierarchy. Female occupy a dominant position over the opposite sex. Moreover, there is an additional division between them. Adults are considered to be the main ones. They are the first to start eating, resting at the entrance to the den, grow more offspring. Females with a lower position in the pack do not receive such privileges, but belong to the middle of the hierarchy.
Males occupy the lowest step.In this case, they also have a similar division. High-ranking individuals have priority access to females. But nevertheless, everyone demonstrates a general submission to the other sex. For reproduction, males often join new flocks.
Among spotted hyenas constantly occurinterclan wars for habitat. The boundaries of the territory are constantly patrolled by these predators and delineated by feces, as well as by anal secretions of odorous glands. The number of one clan can reach from 10 to 100 individuals.
Genital organs
Hyena spotted has a unique genitalia.All females have an organ in the form of a penis. To distinguish the sex of these animals can only an experienced specialist. Female genitalia resemble male organs. The clitoris is very similar to the penis. Under it is a scrotum. Through the clitoral member passes the urogenital canal.
Enemies of spotted hyenas
These predators have "Eternal" rivals.Lions and hyenas are constantly competing. This struggle takes sometimes cruel forms. Hyenas like to attack small cubs and often kill old and sick adults. In response, the lions destroy hyenas. War between predators goes and for food. Lions and hyenas often chase each other from prey. Victory goes to a more numerous "detachment."
What do spotted hyenas eat?
Эти животные весьма непривередливы в пище.But the main food for hyenas is carrion. They can hunt and eat fresh meat, but also do not disdain the corpses of animals, and sometimes eat their relatives. As mentioned above, these animals have very developed jaws. For this reason, spotted hyenas eat every part of the body of their prey, leaving almost nothing. This possibility is carried out at the expense of a unique digestive system, as well as a very active gastric juice.
What can hyenas eat?Wildlife has created unique "orderlies." These predators are able to assimilate everything - the skin, bones, hooves, horns, teeth, wool and feces. All this is digested in the stomach during the day. These predators feed on dead animals, which are almost completely decomposed.
However, 50% of the diet of spotted hyenas iscarrion ungulates (rhinos, zebras, gazelles, antelopes, etc.). Predators often haunt sick and old animals. They also feed on hares, porcupines, gazelles, warthogs and many other animals. For example, a pack of hyenas can attack even such giants as giraffe, rhino and hippo.
Hunting
These predators have reputationcowardly animals, but this is far from the case. According to numerous studies, hyenas are excellent hunters who excel in this art of lions. These scavengers are most active at night. In search of food, hyenas travel long distances - up to 70 kilometers in one day. During the day they hunt less often, preferring to rest in the shade or lie in the water in shallow water.
Hunting hyenas is exhausting preylong run. These predators can run a great distance. When they overtake the prey, they gnaw through the main blood arteries on the paws. Hyenas do not choke their victims, like many other predators, but begin to tear the still living flesh.
Hunting occurs in different ways. On the small gazelle go alone, on the antelope - in small groups of 3 to 4 individuals. On the hunt, they make different sounds, but more often - “laughter”, which turns into a prolonged howl.
Due to its excellent sense of smell, African hyenasable to smell carrion at a distance of over 4 kilometers. For hunting, they use sight and hearing. Despite the eternal war with the lions, hyenas will not be able to pick up their prey if there is an adult healthy male in the enemy camp.
The spotted African predator is amazing.animal. Hyena has in its habits some cowardice, which is best called caution. She is very aggressive and bold. If the hyena is hungry, it can tear even large animals. In the hunt, she tries to use her tremendous jaw strength, fast running and ferocity. A hungry hyena can attack people. At the same time it is so strong that it can carry the human body into a gallop with ease and alone.
Reproduction
To produce offspring, the spotted hyena usesburrows of other animals or small caves. Cubs, despite their aggressiveness, she does not eat. Increased nastiness due to the high content of the hormone androgen. But this quality is given by nature to protect the offspring, so that the females can protect and feed their young, which reach sexual maturity only by 3 years.
Offspring appears before the start of the rainyof the season. Females carry cubs for approximately 100 days. One litter can contain up to four babies at a time. On the light, they appear already sighted and with good hearing. After 3 months, babies already weigh over 14 kg.
If the babies are same-sex, then almost immediately afterbirth between them begins the struggle to die. Spotted hyenas feed their offspring with milk for more than a year, but nevertheless it does not prevent the youngsters from starting to hunt and eat fully from the first months of life.
The use of hyenas in nature
These animals occupy one of the main places inmaintaining the savannah ecosystem. These are natural "orderlies." Each year, they kill almost 12% of the Gnu antelope in the Serengetti, which allows herbivores to maintain the density of their species within reasonable limits. Mostly old or sick animals fall into the teeth of spotted hyenas.
