Hyaenas on reddit! I love these guys! Science time...
There are actually four members of the hyaena family (Hyaenidae): striped, spotted, brown and the aardwolf, and despite their shape, hyaenas are more closely related to cats than dogs as they are part of the Feliformia ('cat-like') carnivore suborder. They all inhabit underground dens and/or small caves that keep their young safe from potential predators.
Striped hyena, Hyaena hyaena
The guy posted above is probably a juvenile as the adults look less fluffy and more shaggy, like this. The long mane on their back can be made to stand erect when threatened but otherwise are similar in size at their largest to a German shepherd. Almost exclusively opportunistic scavengers but will hunt when needed to and almost always do so alone as they are solitary except when courting. If hunting, they do so at night and prey on young ungulates, rodents and other animals of a similar size. Their range covers the savanna, woodland and bushland of northern and eastern Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. Currently near threatened on the IUCN red list.
Similar to the striped hyaena, they are solitary scavengers who rarely hunt, although if they must, their prey is smaller animals than those of the striped. They are of a similar size to striped hyaenas and can also erect their mane to appear larger if threatened. Usually scavenge alone but live in small family clans of 4-6. Their range is exclusively Southern Africa and they can be found in savanna, woodland, bushland, desert, littoral and urban areas. Currently near threatened on the IUCN red list.
The smallest of the family, (here's a cub), they're about the same size as a cocker spaniel. Insectivorous, nocturnal and live in monogamous family groups. Found in the savanna and bushland of southern and eastern Africa and are listed as 'least concern' by the IUCN.
The biggest of the family, these guys can grow to the size of a Great Dane but are much more robustly built. Primarily hunters but will not pass up an easy meal if carrion is readily available. When in clans, they often displace lions at kills and are the apex predator in many regions. Although they mainly hunt alone, they are incredibly intelligent cooperative hunters that have displayed problem-solving abilities on par with the Great Apes. They are not nocturnal but crepuscular meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. They are found in most non-desert habitats in sub-Saharan Africa and can live in large clans of up to 50 individuals. Females are almost completely dominant over males (exceptions being subadult male offspring of higher ranking females). Males 'queue' when they join a new clan - longest serving male member of clan has first dibs on high rank females, however the females still call the shots when it's mating time. They have a repertoire of about 15 distinct vocalisations than can communicate rank, location, identification and territory amongst other things. They are best known for their giggles which they vocalise when excited or nervous. Females have the Swiss Army Knife of genitalia: an enlarged clitoris that resembles a penis in size and shape which she will 'flip' against her chest to express arousal if a male signals interest, the female will then invert the clitoris (after a mutual inspection of each others genitalia) before copulation so that it becomes a functional vagina, and she will later give birth through the clitoris (almost always to twins) causing it to rupture and split. The large pink keloid scar this leaves (if the mother doesn't die from blood loss) is the simplest way to tell males from females. The difficulty in distinguishing the sexes is one of the reasons hyaenas are so derided - homophobic onlookers found their behaviour objectionable. In addition, local folklore often depicts hyaenas as witches or their favoured method of transport. The Lion King didn't really help either. Are not on the IUCN list as they are the most abundant predator in Africa.
zachlloyd on May 6th, 2017 at 03:30 UTC »
Looks like a pokemon
SlipperySimian on May 6th, 2017 at 05:21 UTC »
Pretty dope until you fall down and they start ripping your guts through your butt.
vanilligan on May 6th, 2017 at 07:00 UTC »
Hyaenas on reddit! I love these guys! Science time...
There are actually four members of the hyaena family (Hyaenidae): striped, spotted, brown and the aardwolf, and despite their shape, hyaenas are more closely related to cats than dogs as they are part of the Feliformia ('cat-like') carnivore suborder. They all inhabit underground dens and/or small caves that keep their young safe from potential predators.
Striped hyena, Hyaena hyaena
The guy posted above is probably a juvenile as the adults look less fluffy and more shaggy, like this. The long mane on their back can be made to stand erect when threatened but otherwise are similar in size at their largest to a German shepherd. Almost exclusively opportunistic scavengers but will hunt when needed to and almost always do so alone as they are solitary except when courting. If hunting, they do so at night and prey on young ungulates, rodents and other animals of a similar size. Their range covers the savanna, woodland and bushland of northern and eastern Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. Currently near threatened on the IUCN red list.Brown hyaena, Hyaena brunnea
Similar to the striped hyaena, they are solitary scavengers who rarely hunt, although if they must, their prey is smaller animals than those of the striped. They are of a similar size to striped hyaenas and can also erect their mane to appear larger if threatened. Usually scavenge alone but live in small family clans of 4-6. Their range is exclusively Southern Africa and they can be found in savanna, woodland, bushland, desert, littoral and urban areas. Currently near threatened on the IUCN red list.Aardwolf, Proteles cristata
The smallest of the family, (here's a cub), they're about the same size as a cocker spaniel. Insectivorous, nocturnal and live in monogamous family groups. Found in the savanna and bushland of southern and eastern Africa and are listed as 'least concern' by the IUCN.Spotted hyaena, Crocuta crocuta
The biggest of the family, these guys can grow to the size of a Great Dane but are much more robustly built. Primarily hunters but will not pass up an easy meal if carrion is readily available. When in clans, they often displace lions at kills and are the apex predator in many regions. Although they mainly hunt alone, they are incredibly intelligent cooperative hunters that have displayed problem-solving abilities on par with the Great Apes. They are not nocturnal but crepuscular meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. They are found in most non-desert habitats in sub-Saharan Africa and can live in large clans of up to 50 individuals. Females are almost completely dominant over males (exceptions being subadult male offspring of higher ranking females). Males 'queue' when they join a new clan - longest serving male member of clan has first dibs on high rank females, however the females still call the shots when it's mating time. They have a repertoire of about 15 distinct vocalisations than can communicate rank, location, identification and territory amongst other things. They are best known for their giggles which they vocalise when excited or nervous. Females have the Swiss Army Knife of genitalia: an enlarged clitoris that resembles a penis in size and shape which she will 'flip' against her chest to express arousal if a male signals interest, the female will then invert the clitoris (after a mutual inspection of each others genitalia) before copulation so that it becomes a functional vagina, and she will later give birth through the clitoris (almost always to twins) causing it to rupture and split. The large pink keloid scar this leaves (if the mother doesn't die from blood loss) is the simplest way to tell males from females. The difficulty in distinguishing the sexes is one of the reasons hyaenas are so derided - homophobic onlookers found their behaviour objectionable. In addition, local folklore often depicts hyaenas as witches or their favoured method of transport. The Lion King didn't really help either. Are not on the IUCN list as they are the most abundant predator in Africa.Source: PhD/lecture on hyaena behaviour