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Spotted Hyena

23-01-2025

10:31 AM

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1 min read
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Spotted Hyenalatest News

In a new study, Egyptian researchers have discovered a spotted hyena (Crocutta crocutta), one of Africa’s most abundant carnivores, appeared in southern Egypt after 5,000 years. 

Spotted Hyena Overview

  • It is also called the laughing hyena. It is a fascinating and intelligent creature with a very interesting social system.
  • It is a carnivorous animal that hunts and scavenges.
  • It is a strong and capable hunter and the largest member of the hyena fam
  • They have excellent night vision, being mostly nocturnal, hunting at night, and sleeping or staying near their den in the daytime.
  • They have a matriarchal social order of related individuals that are called clans.

Spotted Hyena’s Appearance

  • It has a sandy, yellowish or gray coat with black or dark brown spots on the over most of the bod
  • It looks like a dog but is closer related to cats, civets, and gene
  • The spots are darkest in younger animals and can be almost completely absent in very old animals.
  • Females and males look exactly the same except that females are a little larger.
  • Habitat: It is common in many types of open, dry habitat including semi-desert, savannah, acacia bush, and mountainous forest.
  • Distribution: These hyenas live throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Conservation Status
    • IUCN: Least Concern

Spotted Hyena FAQs

Q1: Do spotted hyenas live in India?

Ans: They live throughout much of Africa and eastwards through Arabia to India

Q2: What is unique about spotted hyenas?

Ans: The spotted hyena may look unusual, at first sight. It has a large head with a long, thick, muscular neck and powerful jaws

Q3: Are hyenas friendly to humans?

Ans: Hyenas are not friendly to humans. Although humans are not the main source of their diet, they can hunt and attack humans. 

Q4: What is the IUCN status of the hyena?

Ans: It is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN 

Q5: Is a spotted hyena a primary consumer?

Ans: It is primarily a predator rather than a scavenger.

Source: DTE