The intermediate-sized extant hyena, this species is 110-136 cm (43-53 in) in body length, 64-88 cm (25-35 in) tall at the shoulder, and weighs 37-55 kg (82-121 lb), though exceptional larger individuals are known.
Many Europeans associated the hyena with sexual deformity, prostitution, and deviant sexual behavior.
The Hyaenidae family is also known as the hyena family, and all members of this family, including the aardwolf, are sometimes designated as hyenas.
African attitudes toward hyenas are little better than those held in the Western world.
The three living species of hyenas have among the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom and an adult of the species has only the big cats (lions) to fear.
Striped hyena live in the tropical savanna, grasslands, semi-desert, scrub forest, and woodland.
Brown hyena often feed from lion kills, but lions dominate and occasionally kill brown hyena.
Most lines of hyena died out towards the end of the Miocene, possibly due to competition from early canids.
The majority of hyena species show little sexual dimorphism, usually with males being only slightly larger than the females.
Hyenas and lions are an exception to this; they set boundaries against each other as they would against members of their own species.
The hyena was also a symbol of wisdom and cleverness; however, because of its constant laughter, its knowledge was seen to be that of the debased, profane, earthly, or initiatory kind.
The hyena's powerful jaws and digestive systems allowed them to consume otherwise indigestible parts (Postanowicz 2007).
The wise hyena was a fool compared to the all-knowing God and symbolized the foolishness of man's wisdom as opposed to that of the Father (I Cor 1:25).
The fourth member of the hyena family, the insectivorous aardwolf, does not have such powerful jaws, given its diet consists mainly of termites, other insect larvae, and carrion.
The spotted hyena or laughing hyena (Crocuta crocuta) are native to Africa and are best known for a chirping, birdlike bark that resembles the sound of hysterical human laughter.
The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is closely related to the brown hyena.
Extinct hyena genera included civet-like tree dwellers and speedy species designed for running down prey, along with even more powerfully developed bone-crushing species similar to modern hyena.
The spotted hyena is perhaps the most abundant carnivore on the African continent, and all are integral to food chains.
The spotted hyena's fur is considerably shorter and is spotted rather than striped.
According to early writings such as Ovid's Metamorphoses and the Physiologus, the hyena continually changed its sex and nature from male to female and back again.
Notwithstanding these negative associations of people, hyenas actually are key components of most African ecosystems and some ecosystems in Asia.
Spotting a lynx is a very rare event in and of itself, due to the extremely shy and solitary nature of the animal, and their typically nocturnal habit.
Hyenas are native to Africa, Arabia, Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
Fossil examples include the genera Protictitherium, Ictitherium, Chasmaporthetes, Adcrocuta, Pachycrocuta, and Percrocuta (of which P. gigantea was the largest Hyena which ever lived).
The peak of the Hyaenidae was during the Pleistocene, with 4 genera and 9 species of hyena (Postanowicz 2007).
In African folklore, witches and sorcerers are thought to ride hyenas, or even turn into them.
Female hyenas give birth, copulate, and urinate through their protruding genitalia, which stretches to allow the male penis to enter for copulation, and it also stretches during birth.
Many African tribes view hyenas as inedible and greedy hermaphrodites.
Spotted hyenas are the most common predator in sub-Saharan Africa, living in savanna, dry woodland, and desert habitats.
Striped hyenas are largely scavengers, but will also eat small animals, fruit, and insects.
One unusual feature of the spotted hyena is that females have an enlarged clitoris called a pseudo-penis or demi-penis.
All three hyena species, and the aardwolf, have a distinctly bear-like gait and sloping posture due to their front legs being longer than their hind legs.
One indication of hyena intelligence is that they will move their kills closer to each other to protect them from scavengers; another indication is their strategic hunting methods (Lind 1977).
Their ability to fulfill their role in harmony with humans requires a greater awareness of their importance, viewing hyenas in a more positive light.
The striped hyena is generally considered solitary, but has some social organization.
Genitals, the anal area, and the anal glands are sniffed during greeting ceremonies in which each hyena lifts its leg and allows the other to sniff its anal sacks and genitals.
The brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea, formerly Hyaena brunnea) lives mainly in the Kalahari and Namib deserts of southern Africa.
The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is closely related to the brown hyena.
Brown hyena can generally chase off leopard, caracal, or cheetah, but spotted hyena will drive them from kills.
The spotted hyena is an exception to this, as females are larger than the males and dominate them.
The aardwolf, striped hyena, and brown hyena have luxurious, striped pelts and manes lining the top of their necks, which erect when frightened.
Their scavenger nature, including scavenging graves for food, has led people to associate hyenas with gluttony, uncleanliness, and cowardice, and in some local cultures they have been associated with demons and witches.
Despite what Simba would have you believe, spotted hyenas don't just scavenge for lion leftovers. Spotted hyenas hunt and kill in packs. Ninety-five percent of what a hyena eats comes from hunting. A group of hyenas can devour an entire zebra, leaving no leftovers—not even the bones—in under half an hour.May 1, 2015
Lions will also kill hyenas, but enough hyenas can be a pretty solid threat to lions – able to steal carcasses or kill their cubs. Leopards sometimes kill and eat lion cubs.Dec 12, 2012