Hyaenidae - aardwolf, hyenas
 There are four species in this family. They are native to Africa, Asia, and India. 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 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!
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. |
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