The Hyena {Crocuta Crocuta} - The spotted hyena (crocuta) has the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom | South Africa Wildlife

South Africa Wildlife

The Hyena

SOUTH AFRICA SEARCH BY MAP REGIONS HOTELS ACCOMMODATION TOURS TRANSPORT WEDDINGS CONFERENCES INFO

general info  info for tourists   attractions    golfing   game/nature reserves   wildlife     birdlife    exchange rates    climate/weather   languages and culture

South Africa Wildlife

THE HYENA - Crocuta crocuta

You are here »

South Africa » South African Wildlife »  Hyena

HyenaThe Hyena ia a vaguely bearlike large animal with a sturdy build, high shoulders, and long muscular limbs. The hyena has a large head, broad, rounded ears. It's coat is rough, comparatively short and is reddish brown to tan in color growing lighter with age. The tail and nose are black.

The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) has the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom. Of the three species of hyena in Africa, only the spotted hyena and the shy and much rarer, striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) are found in East Africa. The smaller, and even shyer brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea) occurs only in southern Africa. Different from most other animals, female spotted hyenas are dominant over the males and outweigh them by about 3 pounds.

Height:
Hyenas stand 28 to 35 inces high at the shoulder. Weight: 90 to 190 pounds.

Habitat:
Savannas, grasslands, woodlands, forest edges, subdeserts and mountains to 13,000 feet. The hyena is the most abundant large carnivore in areas where antelopes and zebras are found in masses. A formidable scavenger that lives wherever animal resources are adequate.

Diet:
Omnivorous scavenger. The hyena eats vertebrates of all kinds, especially hoofed mammals, it seldom eats invertebrates, fruits, or vegetables. Utilizes carcasses of large vertebrates more efficiently than other carnivores. Eats everything but rumen contents and horn bosses of the biggest antelopes, even deriving nourishment from mummified carcasses. Bones, horns, hooves, even teeth are digested completely within 24 hours.

Reproduction:
2 young per litter, gestation is 4 months. Maturation at 3 years, females later than males.

Predators:
Lion, Leopard, Eagles and strange hyena

See Hyena at Game Reserves and Game Lodges in:

Eastern Cape · Limpopo · North West · Mpumalanga · Gauteng · Free State
KwaZulu Natal · Western Cape · Garden Route · Kruger National Park
Northern Cape · Namibia · Botswana

« South Africa Tours | South Africa Game Reserves | South African Safari »
«
Western Cape Accommodation »

Hyenas are very cunning and resourceful. Although usually considered scavengers-they do pick over kills made by large carnivores and frequent rubbish dumps-they also hunt and kill a variety of prey.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

South Africa Accommodation & Travel Network of Web Sites brought to you by and © SA-Venues.com and Suedafrika-Reise.net

western cape  garden route  eastern cape  kwazulu natal  mpumalanga  gauteng  limpopo  north west  free state  northern cape  |  namibia  |  botswana

South Africa Wildlife - The Hyena {Crocuta Crocuta} - The spotted hyena (crocuta) has the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom

South Africa AccommodationSouth Africa SafarisSouth Africa HotelsSüdafrika ReiseCape Town HotelsTravel Links
Site by DTP OrbitAdvertiseContactDrakensbergSouth Africa WeddingsCape Town Accommodation