The brown or brown hyena is an African predator. Brown or brown hyena - African predator Behavior of hyenas in a pack

I think many people know what conflicting feelings are. One goblin friend of mine joked that every scientist experiences conflicting feelings after creating an explosive composition and destroying his entire laboratory during its testing.

Personally, the first time I felt such a feeling was while in an Orc village. I got there by accident. I didn’t even know that anyone lived in those parts, but here on you, a settler, it’s quite decent. In the center a huge tent rises - a common kitchen, dining room and part-time tavern, on either side of it are two smaller ones - the personal apartments of the leader and the shaman. In general, everything was as it should be, and they received me well there.

For a small fee I got a hammock hung with skins and protective amulets, a place by the fire with a vat of food, a bowl and a mug of excellent vodka.

Two days later, when I was about to continue my journey, there was a commotion in the village. The hunters reported to the leader that they had seen a white hyena nearby. There really was something to be nervous about.

For those who are hearing about such an animal for the first time, I will now explain what it is. The white hyena, also known as the dune hyena, got its name not because of the color of its skin or special cleanliness, but because of the bright white flame that envelops it completely, from its paws to the tip of its nose.

Most weapons simply melt in this flame, without causing any harm to the creature itself. If, however, someone manages to wound the white hyena and appears dangerous to it, then it begins to spew flames from its mouth.

Such beasts rarely appear near settlements and highways, preferring more remote places, but sometimes they can still be found there. No one will find any hints that there was a village in this place after the white hyena visits there. Traces of its presence are mainly sandy soil that has been melted and in some places frozen in a glassy sheen.

In general, in front of the orcs that accepted me, I became serious problem. Naturally, none of them had expensive and rare weapons that could withstand the white flame, and they also really didn’t want to leave their homes to escape the monster.

After watching how the fate of the village was being decided, and the leader was either threatening, asking, or beating the shaman, I decided to take a little walk and figure out how close the danger really was. After all, the unfortunate hyena could have gone far and past without finding delicious table in the form of a settlement. I didn't have to hang around for long.

We faced her, as they say, head-on. I don't remember that fight well.

I woke up already in the shaman’s tent, who, I must give him credit, worked hard on me. Then there was no need to even get rid of the scars, everything was overgrown without a trace. When my unfortunate body got stronger and I was able to wander out into the street on my own, I was greeted as a hero by the entire population of the village, led by the leader. Having seated me at the table and thanked me on behalf of all the residents, the local leader presented me with the most expensive gift, in the eyes of the orcs, which should under no circumstances be refused, well, if life is precious. And the gift was a night with any of the women of the village, to choose from.

It was then that I experienced truly conflicting feelings. On the one hand, this is true highest sign respect from this race, and to be awarded it is definitely a reason for pride. On the other hand - a night with orchesa!

The brown hyena, also called the brown hyena, lives in central Africa, mostly in the Kalahari and Namib deserts. Their range stretches from the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe to Namibia and southern Angola. In South Africa, brown hyenas have been almost completely exterminated, with the exception of the Cape Province and the Transvaal.

Features of the appearance of the brown hyena

Brown hyenas are significantly smaller than spotted hyenas - the body length is 71-82 centimeters, plus a tail 25-30 centimeters long. Average weight varies from 25 to 35 kilograms, and the maximum body weight is 39 kilograms. Males are slightly heavier than females.

In isolated areas - the provinces of Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape - exceptionally large individuals weighing about 70 kilograms were found.

This species has the typical characteristics of the family external signs: reverse tilt of the body, large head, long and strong legs. The head is wide, the ears are narrow, the teeth are large. The front legs are much better developed than the hind legs. The claws on the fingers do not retract.

The brown hyena's mane is very long, not erect and shaggy, it runs along the back and hangs down the sides of the body. The color of the mane is much lighter than the rest of the body. Plain wool Brown, and the stripes are located only on the legs. The lower part of the body is lighter. The tail is shaggy.

The anus has odorous glands, from which a secretion with an unpleasant odor is released, which is why hyenas smell bad.

Brown Hyena Habitat

This species is endemic to the arid and barren regions of southern Africa. Although the range of brown hyenas has declined significantly in Lately, they are still quite numerous in southern Africa. They have learned to survive close to humans.

Brown hyenas mainly live in barren savannas, but they also live in deserts. Brown hyenas prefer semi-deserts, savannah and wooded areas. They hunt and hide in rocky areas.

Lifestyle of brown hyenas

These are fairly solitary animals that are active mainly at night.

Although brown hyenas have excellent hearing and vision, they mostly rely on their keen sense of smell to detect carrion and other prey. Having sensed prey, the hyena quickly runs, covering a considerable distance in order to arrive at the place first than other scavengers.

During the dry season, brown hyenas actively search for food; they hunt for about 10 hours, while walking 30-50 kilometers per day.

Fortunately, during the rainy season there is more food, so hyenas do not have to travel as much.

Brown hyenas live in clans, but they hunt alone. Most of the group are closely related, but migrating males sometimes join the clan. Relations within the clan are more peaceful than among other hyenas, and the cubs are not as aggressive towards each other. Older pups even guard their younger counterparts and make alarming sounds when a predator approaches their den.

Females mate with migrating males. Females and some males remain with the clan even after maturation, which occurs at 2.5 years. But most often, males leave their clan and join someone else’s, or constantly migrate.

The meeting of brown hyenas takes place in the den; when the hyenas are outside the den, they are solitary. Individuals obtain food alone and can only gather in groups of several near a large carcass.

Young individuals rest near the den and play, while grabbing each other's manes with their teeth. These games are so tough that all the cubs have numerous scars on their necks.

In conflict situations, hyenas raise their manes on their backs and necks. Brown hyenas have overly developed chemical communication. There are scent marks throughout the clan's territory. Each individual has a unique smell, so other hyenas are able to identify each other. Brown hyenas have two types of odorous secretions. One has a short effect, it disappears after a few hours; with the help of this secretion, hyenas find out where the individual obtained food. The second secret has a persistent aroma that does not fade over the course of a month, with the help of which the hyena strengthens its position in the clan.

Brown hyenas, like spotted hyenas, are very vocal, but unlike their cousins, they do not make cackling sounds. The brown hyena is most often heard at night. When individuals quarrel over food, they growl, whine and howl.

Listen to the voice of the brown hyena

Natural enemies brown hyenas are lions and common hyenas.

Brown hyena feeding

In the Namib and Kalahari deserts, brown hyenas feed primarily on carrion. If there is no carrion, then hyenas switch to fruits, vegetables, termites, locusts, dung beetles, small birds, rodents, lizards. Occasionally they attack poultry. Brown hyenas can also attack larger prey, such as young antelope.

During the rainy season, leftovers from the meals of cheetahs, lions and leopards form the basis of the diet of brown hyenas. During the dry season, the percentage of vegetables and fruits in the diet drops sharply, so melons become the main source of moisture for them during the 8 months of drought.

The brown hyena's jaws are not as powerful as those of the spotted hyena, but it is capable of biting through an ostrich egg. Hyenas, like foxes, stock up on food. They also bring additional food to the den by feeding the pups.

Brown hyenas can pursue small game for a short distance, but only one out of 6-10 hunting attempts is successful.

Reproduction of brown hyenas

There is no seasonality in the mating season among brown hyenas. Females mate with various nomadic males. Some males mate with females and leave the clan, while others remain after mating and take part in raising the offspring. If the female dies, then other females begin to feed her babies.

Pregnancy lasts 92-98 days. There are usually 2-4 babies in a litter. For the first 3 months, the mother comes to the cubs at sunrise and sunset, and spends about 5 hours with them. There are teenagers in the den, so the puppies do not get bored, and the mother does not need to come too often. As the babies grow, their milk diet is supplemented by meat that the mother and other clan members bring to the den.

When babies begin to eat solid food, the mother comes to them once a day, staying with them for about half an hour. Teenagers as young as 8 months can stay on their own for 2-3 nights.

At 10 months, young individuals already begin to hunt on their own, obtaining food near the den. Over time, the range of their attacks increases. Females feed their offspring with milk for 10 months, and wean them completely at 15 months. The young continue to return to the den, where they socialize, play, and sometimes receive additional food from the males. Brown hyenas begin to breed at least 2.5 years old.

Brown hyena population

Brown hyenas are useful animals, as they eat carrion and clear an area of ​​infected remains. Occasionally they harm people by attacking poultry.

The number of brown hyenas in Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia is about 5070-8020 individuals. It is also believed that about 220 brown hyenas live in Lesotho, Angola and Mozambique. As of 1995, 16 brown hyenas were registered in zoos.

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Found in Namibia, Botswana, western and southern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and South Africa. Most rare view hyenas

Size:

Brown hyenas can reach 86 to 140 cm (34 to 55 in) in body length, although they average 110 to 125 cm (43 to 49 in). The height at the withers is 70 to 80 cm (28 to 31 in), and the tail is 25 to 35 cm (9.8 to 14 in) long. Unlike the greater spotted hyena, there are no significant differences between the sexes, although males may be slightly larger than females. The average adult male weighs 40.2 to 43.7 kg (89 to 96 lb), while the average female weighs 37.7 to 40.2 kg (83 to 89 lb). The normal upper weight limit for this species is 55 kg (120 lb), although sometimes reaching up to 67.6 to 72.6 kg (149,160 lb).

Description:

The fur is long and shaggy, especially on the tail and back. The overall fur color is dark brown, while the head is grey, the upper body is rufous and the legs are gray with dark transverse stripes. Erectile hair is 305 mm (12 inches) long and covers the neck and back. Brown hyenas have powerful jaws: young animals can crack leg bones within five minutes of birth, although this ability declines with age as their teeth gradually wear down. Brown hyenas' skulls are larger than those of more northern striped hyenas, and their teeth are more robust, indicating less generalized dietary adaptations. Brown hyenas have anal glands below the base of their tail.

Character:

Brown hyenas have a social hierarchy comparable to wolves, with an alpha male and an alpha female. They are social animals that can live in clans consisting of one adult of each sex, although there are reports of clans consisting of four males and six females. In the latter case, it is believed that there is at least one dominant male. The brown hyena maintains a stable clan hierarchy through ritualized aggressive displays of fighting. They typically forage alone and do not maintain a territory, rather than using normal hunting routes.

Feeding:

Brown hyena feeds mainly on carrion, the bulk of their diet consisting of carcasses of killed large predators, although they may supplement their diet with rodents, insects, eggs, fruits and mushrooms (Kalaharituber pfeilii truffle). However, brown hyenas are aggressive. In the Kalahari Desert, brown hyenas are often the dominant predator.

The brown hyena will store excess food in bushes or holes and restore it within 24 hours. The brown hyena is a poor hunter, and live prey forms only a small part of their diet: in the southern Kalahari, species such as springhare, gazelle, bat-eared fox and korhaan species make up only 4.2% of their total diet, while On the Namib coast, cape fur cubs make up 2.9% of brown hyenas' food supply. In the Kalahari, brown hyenas are active 80% of the time at night, searching for food in an area spanning 31.1 km (19.3 mi), with 54.4 km (33.8 mi) recorded. Their powerful sense of smell allows them to track even old carcasses 2 km (1.2 mi) downwind.

Reproduction:

Females are brown hyenas and usually produce their first litter. They mate mainly from May to August, and the gestation period lasts 97 days. Female brown hyenas mate with nomadic females and the dominant male member of their own clan. The males of the clan do not show resistance and will help the females in raising their cubs. Females give birth in dens that are hidden in remote sand dunes near the territory of spotted hyenas and lions. Mothers typically produce one litter every 20 months. Typically only the leading females of the clan, but if two litters are born in the same clan, the mothers will nurse each other's young, although in favor of their own. Litters usually consist of 1-5 young, which weigh 1 kg (2.2 kg) at birth. Unlike spotted hyenas, brown hyenas are born with eyes closed, and open them after eight days. The cubs leave their burrows after four months. Also unlike spotted hyenas, all adult members of the clan will carry food for the pups. They are not fully weaned and do not leave the area around their den until they reach 14 months of age.

Additional Information:

Synonyms:

Brown hyena, Parahyaena brunnea, brown hyena

Subspecies:

Hyenas, or Hyenas, are a family of predatory mammals of the suborder Felidae. Characteristic features members of the family have a short, thick head with a short, thick or pointed muzzle; Their hind legs are shorter than their front legs, so their back is sloping, from the shoulder area to the sacrum. The limbs are four-fingered, with non-retractable claws; step on toes. The tail is shaggy: long, coarse hair forms a mane on the neck and along the back.

Where does the hyena live?

• Habitat of hyenas depends on the type. For example, aardwolf lives in East, North-East and West Africa, except Tanzania and Zambia. Predators settle in open sandy plains or in thickets of bushes, where they go out to hunt at dusk.
• Brown hyenas live also in Africa, in the Zambezi along the Indian and Atlantic Ocean, in Tanzania, in Zimbabwe, in Namibia, Somalia, in Botswana. They live in desert or semi-desert places, in savannas, in coastal areas, in forests, going out to hunt at dusk.
• Striped hyenas are found in North Africa, Turkey, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, India, southern Sahara, and the countries of the Arabian Peninsula. They go out hunting at night, and during the day they live in burrows, crevices and caves.
• Spotted hyenas live in South and East Africa, in Kenya, Sudan, Namibia, Somalia, Tanzania, Botswana, they settle in savannas at high elevations.

Description

These are large-sized animals: body length varies from 50 cm for a small aardwolf to 1.5 m for a spotted hyena, weight, respectively, from 10 to 80 kg. All hyenas are characterized by a large head with a wide mouth and powerful jaws. Hyenas have limbs of different lengths: the hind legs are much shorter than the front ones, which makes it seem as if the hyena is crouching all the time. Strong paws are armed with blunt claws. The tail is short and shaggy. All hyenas have long, coarse fur, only the spotted hyena has short fur.

Different species are colored differently: the spotted hyena is gray with brown spots, the striped hyena is light gray in color with a dark muzzle and black transverse stripes on the body, brown hyena and the aardwolf is solid brown. A unique feature of hyenas is that females have pseudo-male genitalia. Externally, animals of different sexes can only be distinguished by size - female hyenas are larger than males. This is where the long-standing belief comes from that hyenas are hermaphrodites. An unpleasant addition is the specific smell, which in these animals is quite strong.

The spotted and brown hyenas and the aardwolf live in Africa, and the striped hyena, in addition to the African continent, is found in Asia Minor, Central and South Asia. All types of hyenas prefer to live in open landscapes - savannas, steppes and semi-deserts. The brown hyena is found mainly on the coasts of the continent.

Types of hyenas

Below is short description varieties of hyenas.

Striped hyena (lat. Hyaena hyaena)

A fairly large animal with a body length of 0.9 to 1.2-1.5 meters and a height at the withers of up to 0.8 m. The length of the tail is about 30 cm. Males are much larger than females, therefore, depending on gender, a hyena weighs from 27 to 54 (sometimes 60) kg. Thanks to a special mane of coarse hair, the length of which sometimes reaches 30 cm, the height of the scapular region becomes more pronounced. The coat, about 7 cm long, is dirty gray or brownish-yellow in color with black or brown stripes running across the body. The characteristic structure of the striped hyena's paws becomes especially noticeable when walking, which is why the animal appears to be dragging its hindquarters. The toes on the front and hind limbs are tightly connected. The striped hyena's head is large, with a slightly elongated muzzle and wide, pointed ears. big size. 34 teeth, which are located in wide jaws, driven by powerful muscles, allow you to tear meat and bones into pieces.

The striped hyena lives in clay deserts or rocky foothills. It goes out in search of prey at night and twilight, and during the day it sits out in crevices, abandoned burrows or caves. Striped hyenas are the only members of the family that can live in territories not located on the African continent. The habitat of this species includes the countries of North Africa, as well as areas located south of the Sahara. These animals are found in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, India and the countries of the Arabian Peninsula.

Brown hyena (lat. Hyaena brunnea)

This species differs from the striped hyena in its more modest size. The body length of these animals rarely exceeds 1.1 - 1.25 m (according to some sources, the maximum length reaches 1.6 m). The height at the withers is 70–88 cm. The sizes of males and females are practically the same, although the weight of males is slightly larger and can exceed 48 kg, while the body weight of females barely reaches 40 kg. The light mane, up to 30 cm long, hanging from the neck along the entire spine of these hyenas, looks contrasting against the shaggy, monochromatic, brown-brown coat, which is slightly longer than that of their striped relatives. Characteristic feature This species has a gray coloration of the head and legs, with horizontal whitish stripes clearly visible on the legs.

The neck and shoulders are painted white. The size of the skull of brown hyenas is larger than that of striped hyenas, and the teeth are more durable. Below the base of the tail in these animals there is an anal gland that produces secretions of black and white. With its help, the animal marks the boundaries of its territory. Brown hyenas live in desert and semi-desert areas, found in savannas and forests, but most populations are confined to coastal areas. The brown hyena's habitat includes Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique, Tanzania and Somalia, as well as other African countries located south of the Zambezi River along the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. These animals go out in search of food after dark.

Spotted hyena (lat. Crocuta crocuta)

A wild animal from the genus Crocuta. Spotted hyenas are the most typical representatives of the entire family. This is expressed in characteristic structure the animal's body and its habits. The length of the body with a tail can reach 1.6 m (according to some sources 1.85 m), the height at the withers is up to 80 cm. The weight of female hyenas ranges from 44.5 kg to 82 kg, males are much lighter and weigh from 40 kg to 62 kg. The yellowish-gray or sand-colored coat, decorated with rounded spots of dark brown or black color on the sides, back and limbs, is shorter than that of its relatives.

Depending on the habitat, body color can vary from lighter to darker tones. The hair on the head is brown, with a reddish tint on the cheeks and nape. Brown rings are clearly visible on the rather short tail with a dark tip. There may be light-colored “socks” on the front and hind limbs of the mammal. Unlike representatives of other species, spotted hyenas have shorter ears and their tips are rounded. These hyenas have the largest “repertoire” of vocal communication, allowing them to express various emotions. Spotted hyenas live in savannas and on the elevated plateaus of Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana and other countries in South or East Africa. Spotted hyenas are most active at night, although they can scour in search of prey during the day. Social organization clans among spotted hyenas are based on the dominance of females, therefore even high-ranking males are subordinate to low-ranking females.

Aardwolf (lat. Proteles cristatus)

The smallest species of the hyena family. Unlike spotted and striped hyenas, aardwolves have a more fragile build. The body length of these animals reaches 55-100 cm with a height at the withers of up to 50 cm, and the weight of individuals is 8-14 kg. Like all hyenas, the hind limbs of aardwolves are shorter than the front ones, but the sloping back is not so pronounced. The head of these animals is slightly elongated and in its own way appearance reminds me of a dog. On the coat, which is yellowish-gray or reddish in color, black transverse stripes are clearly visible. The same stripes are visible on the legs of the animal. The long hanging mane, running along the entire ridge, at the moment of danger takes on a vertical position and visually increases the size of this small predator. The jaws of aardwolves are much weaker than those of other species, which is due to the wolf's diet, which feeds on termites and other insects and their larvae, such as carrion beetles. These representatives of hyenas, the only ones in the entire family, have five toes on their forelimbs.

Aardwolves live in most countries of Eastern, North-Eastern and Southern Africa, absent only in tropical forests Tanzania and Zambia, which makes the distribution range of this species fragmented. These predators prefer to settle in places where there are open sandy plains and bushes. They go in search of food in the twilight and night hours, and during the day they sit out in abandoned porcupine burrows, although they are capable of digging shelters for themselves.

Pachycrocuta brevirostris

This is an extinct species of hyena. Judging by the fossilized bones found in Eurasia, eastern and southern Africa, these hyenas were real giants. The average weight of the predator was approximately 110 kg, and the size of the animal can be compared with the size of a modern lioness. Perhaps representatives of the species were scavengers, since with such impressive dimensions it is impossible to develop high speed It was not easy for hunting.

Lifestyle

Not all representatives of this family live in packs: the striped hyena and aardwolf prefer solitude. But spotted and brown hyenas form packs of five individuals or more, while a pack of spotted hyenas can sometimes be huge and consist of a hundred individuals. There is a clear hierarchy among these animals - all lower-ranking individuals are completely subordinate to their superiors (the position is determined primarily by the rank of the mother of small hyenas at their birth and it is extremely difficult to change it later). Males always occupy a lower position, and the most experienced female is in charge.

Features of behavior

There is a misconception that this mammal is a dangerous animal. This opinion is based on the fact that they kill innocents and also feed on carrion. In fact, in nature there are much more dangerous creatures, and thanks to human skills to tame and train, even domestic hyenas are found. At the same time, they become your best friend at home. If an animal comes to a meeting and begins to trust a person, then in terms of devotion it is in no way inferior to an ordinary dog.

Nature has endowed the nimble predator with abilities that seem surprising at first glance. For example, they are capable of producing peculiar sounds. With a devilish laugh, the hyena notifies its family about the discovery of a large amount of food. But animals such as lions have learned to recognize these urges. Often lions take food from hyenas. A pack of predators is unable to fight such a serious opponent and retreats. And they have no choice but to eat up the leftovers or look for a new place for lunch.

In addition, nature endowed the ends of the animal’s paws with glands. By the specific smell of the secretion produced, the “hunters” learned to identify individuals of their flock. This allows them to identify and scare away an intruder.

The hyena is not a terrible animal. In fact they do very important role eating carrion - they perform the function of orderlies. At the same time, hunting other animals ensures the equality of the animal world.

Voice

The language of hyenas is very diverse and they communicate with each other using sounds - first of all, this is the world-famous cry, which is the laughter of hyenas, which creates the impression that the animal is laughing extremely unpleasantly. In reality, these sounds are a mixture of howling, screaming, roaring and something like laughter. Thus, these animals control the order of eating: the main female informs the whole world that she has finished eating, and therefore the next individual in the hierarchy can start eating - this helps pugnacious, warlike and dangerous animals maintain established relationships in the pack, and also avoid fights and conflicts.

Such laughter is characteristic only of the spotted hyena, but the brown hyena and striped hyena do not make such a sound at all. They produce growls, screams, grunts and a rough hoarse howl.

Behavior of hyenas in a pack

Matriarchy reigns in a pack of predators; a hierarchy is built according to the following principles:

• The older females are the most important. They are given the greatest privileges: to rest in the coolest place in the hole, to be the first to taste lunch. In turn, they bear and raise the largest number of offspring.
• Females low class. They follow the elders, that is, they start eating in the second place and rest away from the elders.
• Males. They belong to the lowest class.

What do hyenas eat?

Brown and striped hyenas usually hunt solitarily and are primarily scavengers, sometimes feeding on eggs, invertebrates, or small vertebrates. Spotted hyenas often go out in search of prey in small groups and take prey from jackals, cheetahs, and leopards. Often they themselves organize hunts for rodents, birds, turtles, antelopes, young giraffes, zebras and even elephant calves. In addition, these predators are not averse to feasting on domestic animals (for example, sheep). Sometimes spotted hyenas attack buffaloes, and when gathered in a large flock, they are able to kill this large animal. During the hungry season, spotted hyenas can be content with carrion: the corpses of small and large animals, including sea animals, as well as food waste. In addition, the menu of all members of the family, except for aardwolves, includes plant food. Hyenas readily eat nuts and plant seeds, as well as melons - watermelons, melons, and fruits from the pumpkin family.

Unlike other species, the aardwolf never feeds on the corpses of dead animals. Its diet is based on termites, carrion beetles, and insect larvae. When the opportunity arises, he catches small rodents, destroys bird's nests and eats not only the eggs, but also the birds themselves.

Hunting

To catch prey, nature has endowed hyenas with short hind legs and long front legs, which allows them to develop enormous speed and cover fairly long distances without stopping.

As a hunter, the animal is much superior in skill to lions. They hunt mainly at night, covering more than seventy kilometers. When hunting, the mammal simply exhausts its prey by running long distances. At the same time, frightening her with a devilish laugh, turning into a howl. When the victim is unable to escape, they bite her legs, thereby completely immobilizing her. They eat their prey alive, and not, like other hunters, pre-suffocate it.

Their hearing, smell and vision are at the highest level. For example, they smell carrion at a distance of more than four kilometers.

Reproduction and offspring

The female spotted hyena can produce offspring at any time of the year; there is no specific time allocated for this. The female's genitals look frankly unconventional. They got such a structure at the expense of too high level testosterone in the blood. The vulva merges into large folds and looks like the scrotum and testicles. The clitoris is too large and resembles a phallus. The vagina passes through this pseudo-penis. To mate, the female can invert her clitoris so that the male can insert his penis.

The male takes the initiative to mate. By smell, he understands when the female is ready to mate. The male delicately lowers his head in front of his “lady” as a sign of respect and begins decisive actions only after her approval. Often females mate with males who are not members of their clan. It has been observed that hyenas can have sex for pleasure. Also engage in homosexual activity, especially females with other females.

The spotted hyena's gestation period is 4 months.. The young are born in the brood burrow fully developed, with eyes open and teeth fully formed. Babies weigh from 1 to 1.5 kg. They are quite active from the very beginning. Childbirth is an extremely difficult process for the spotted hyena, this is due to the structure of its genitals. Difficult-to-heal tears in the genitals may occur, which significantly delays the recovery process. Often childbirth ends with the death of the mother or baby.

Each female breastfeeds her babies for 6-12 months before weaning (full weaning may take another 2-6 months). Presumably, such long feeding may be possible due to the high content of bone products in the diet. Spotted hyena milk is extremely rich nutrients necessary for the development of children. It contains the highest amount of protein in the world, and in terms of fat content it is second only to polar bear milk. Thanks to such a high fat content, the female can leave the hole to hunt for 5-7 days without worrying about the condition of the babies. Little hyenas are considered adults only in the second year of life.

Natural enemies

Spotted hyenas are at odds with lions. This is almost their only and constant enemy. Of the total deaths of spotted hyenas, 50% die from the fangs of a lion. Often it is a matter of protecting one's own borders, sharing food and water. This is how it happened in nature. Spotted hyenas will kill lions, and lions will kill spotted hyenas. During the dry season, drought or famine, lions and hyenas are always at war with each other over territory.

This is interesting! The fight between hyenas and lions is tough. It often happens that hyenas attack defenseless lion cubs or old individuals, for which they are attacked in return.

In the struggle for food and primacy, victory goes to the group of animals whose numbers predominate. Also, spotted hyenas, like any other animal, can be exterminated by humans.

Population and species status

In South Africa, Sierra Leone, Round, Nigeria, Mauritania, Mali, Cameroon, Burundi, their numbers are on the verge of extinction. In some countries their population is declining due to hunting and poaching.

Important! Spotted hyenas are listed in the Red Book.

In Botswana, the population of these animals is under state control. Their burrows are far from human settlements; in the region, the spotted hyena acts as game. They are at low risk of extinction in Malawia, Namibia, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Hyena and jackal - differences

Hyenas, like jackals, are representatives of the order of predatory mammals, but there are quite a few differences between them:

• Hyenas are much larger than jackals: on average, their body length ranges from 0.8 m to 1.6 m, and the weight of adult animals ranges from 14 kg to 80 kg or more. The jackal's body reaches no more than 0.6-0.85 m in length, and the animal weighs only 8 to 10 kg.
• Jackals belong to the canid family (lat. Canidae), while hyenas belong to the hyena family (lat. Hyaenidae). In appearance and lifestyle, jackals occupy a middle place between fox and wolves. The muzzles of these animals are sharper than those of wolves, but not sharp enough compared to foxes. Hyenas, unlike jackals, are more similar in skull structure to cats.
• Unlike the hyena, the jackal's hind and front legs are the same length, so when viewed from the side its back does not appear sloping.
• The gestation period for jackals lasts only 2 months, and for hyenas it takes from 3 to 3.5 months. Female jackals are more fertile; one litter can have from 4 to 7, and sometimes 8 cubs. A hyena litter usually contains no more than 3-4 puppies, although a spotted hyena litter can sometimes have up to 7 newborns.
• Under natural conditions, jackals aged 8-10 years are considered long-livers; in captivity they can live up to 12-14 years, sometimes even up to 16 years. Hyenas live in nature no more than 12-15 years, and in zoos - up to 24 years of age.
• Hyenas very rarely get rabies; jackals are more sensitive to this virus.

• Since ancient times, humans have retained a prejudiced attitude towards the hyena. People's imagination has always been excited by the sloppy appearance and unpleasant smell emanating from this animal, its eating habits, behavior and, of course, the laughter of a hyena, similar to a human. All this gave rise to myths and various legends about this animal, which were passed down from generation to generation and gradually turned into facts. Only at the end of the 20th century (1984) a center for the study of the hyena family was opened in California at the University of Berkeley. There are still 40 spotted hyenas kept here today.
• The ancient Greeks believed that these animals are hermaphrodites, that is, a female can easily turn into a male and vice versa. Only after studying hyenas did modern scientists find out that among hyenas there are both females and males, but the external genitalia of males and females are very similar in appearance. The clitoris of female spotted hyenas is quite large and reaches a length of 15 cm, and the pouch-like fold formed by the labia resembles a scrotum in appearance. This unusual structure of the external genitalia of females is associated with increased level testosterone ( male hormone) in the body of pregnant hyenas. The embryos developing in the womb seem to be “bathing” in this hormone. Subsequently, this also affects the character of the females.
• It is believed that hyenas are very cowardly, but, contrary to this belief, they are capable of taking prey from a lone lion or lioness. Sometimes old, sick lions themselves can become victims of hyenas.
• Representatives of the hyena family in the folklore of many nations have become the personification of betrayal, deceit, baseness, gluttony and greed. In the legends of the peoples of Africa, these animals are capable of not only laughing like a person, but also imitating his speech, inviting passers-by into the darkness, hypnotizing them with their gaze, and then killing them. Fortunately, there is no scientific evidence of hyena attacks on humans. But if the animal is driven into a trap, it can bite off the hunter's fingers.
• Most often, when in trouble, a hyena does not resist. Pretending to be dead, she waits for the danger to disappear, and then “comes to life.”
• In East Africa there are peoples who revere this animal. The Tavbs believe that hyenas are animals of the Sun that brought the light to the Earth to warm it. The Waniki people consider the hyena their ancestor and mourn its loss more than the loss of a chief.

Previously, people were able to different parts hyenas (skin, liver, brain, other organs) prepare healing potions that supposedly cure various ailments. For example, eye diseases were treated with her liver. The skin had “magical properties”; people believed that with its help they could protect crops in the fields and their homes from hail.

Video

Sources

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyenas https://nashzeleniymir.ru/hyena#giena-i-shakal-otlichiya.

The brown hyena belongs to the hyena family. She, like most of her relatives, lives on the African continent. The main difference between the brown hyena and other representatives of hyenas is its color and long, coarse, monochromatic brown mane.

Unlike spotted hyenas, brown ones are slightly smaller in size, and males and females do not differ significantly. The family structure of brown hyenas is also different - the alpha male is considered the leader of the clan.

If we talk about the nutrition of the brown hyena, then it is the largest scavenger. Its diet consists of about 95% sea debris and carrion.

Description of the brown hyena

The size of the brown hyena is quite large. Body length – from 86 to 150 cm, without tail. Tail - from 25 to 35 cm. Height at the withers is approximately from 70 to 90 cm. Sexual dimorphism is weakly expressed, sometimes males are slightly larger than females. The weight of an adult male is from 40 to 45 kg, but larger specimens weighing from 65 to 73 kg are also found. Females weigh on average from 36 to 41 kg. The coat color is uniform dark brown, the fur is about 30 cm long on the back and neck, and there are dark and horizontal stripes on the paws. Brown hyenas have strong jaws that can gnaw through the leg of an African antelope. Although, with age, the hyena's jaw wears out a lot and the animal is no longer so good at chewing bones.

Brown hyenas have an anal gland, which is located below the base of the tail, from which the hyena secretes black and white secret, the animal often marks its possessions with it. Basically, the secretions are applied to the stems of grass along the territorial boundaries of the clan.

Where does the brown hyena live?

The brown hyena is common in central Africa. Its habitat extends from the south of the Sahara to the west coast of South Africa. Countries where the brown hyena is found: Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa. Most often, this animal is found in the Namib and Kalahari deserts near the ocean coasts.

What does the brown hyena eat?

The brown hyena's diet mainly consists of carrion. If there is no carrion, the animal can feed on fruits, vegetables, small rodents, insects, marine animals, small birds and their eggs, and ostrich eggs for some time. Sometimes hunts African antelope. But only 6% of all food is obtained by the brown hyena on its own.

During the dry season, the brown hyena feeds mainly on carrion and vegetables. Also during this period she eats a large number of cucumbers and melons, as this is the only source of moisture. Hyenas, which live along the ocean shores of the Namib Desert, often eat sea ​​creatures washed ashore: fish, shellfish and even whales. Occasionally, the brown hyena even hunts seal pups living in this region.

With the onset of the rainy season, brown hyenas mainly feed on leftovers. big cats, lions, leopards and cheetahs.

Lifestyle and reproduction of brown hyenas

Brown hyenas live in family groups. Each group has a hierarchy. The head of the clan is an alpha male and an alpha female. Dominance is demonstrated by displays of strength and aggression. Most of the group consists of relatives and cubs of the leaders, but strangers may also join the family. This happens more often in mating season, when young males leave their clan in search of a female.

Brown hyenas hunt alone and mainly at night. The hyena's acute sense of smell and hearing helps it obtain food. The brown hyena is capable of smelling prey or carrion at quite a distance. In one night, in search of carrion, the animal is able to cover from 30 to 50 km. You can see several brown hyenas feeding only near a large carcass. Upon returning from hunting, members of the pack sniff each other, in this way they greet their relatives.

The territory where brown hyenas live is actively guarded and marked with secretions from the anal glands. Marks are made to prevent other clans from encroaching on their territory.

The mating season for brown hyenas ranges from May to August. For the first time, the female is ready to mate at the age of 2 years, and the male at 2.5 years. Often, females of a clan mate with an alpha male or with emigrant males who come from other clans. After mating, the female brings offspring after 97 days. Just like aardwolves, males of the brown hyena clan raise their offspring together with females. The offspring are born in burrows hidden in the sand dunes, where their sworn enemies lions, spotted hyenas and hyena dogs have no access. Babies are born weighing up to 1 kg with their eyes closed. The litter most often contains from 1 to 5 babies. Up to 3 months, the cubs remain in the hole and do not come out. After 3 months of age, the babies begin to leave the den. At the same age, parents begin to feed their offspring with meat, bringing the remains of their meal to the hole. Up to 14 months, the cubs continue to be fed with mother's milk. At 2.5 years old, young males leave their clan. Females often remain in their clan, although occasionally they leave their family. The life expectancy of brown hyenas is 20-25 years.