The spotted hyena, crocuta crocuta, is the largest hyena species as well as the second largest carnivore in Africa (the African lion is the largest). They measure 4.2 to 6 feet (1.3 to 1.85 meters) from head to tail. Females weigh up to 190 pounds (86 kilograms), making them slightly heavier than males, who only weigh up to around 136 pounds (62 kilograms). As the name implies, the spotted hyena has black spots all over its body (they do fade with age however). The rest of their body is a dull grey, sandy, ginger or brown color. It has a short, brown tail and a short mane that ends just behind its high shoulders. Despite their dog-like appearance, the spotted hyena is actually more closely related to mongooses and civets (such as the masked palm or Malayan civet).
The spotted hyena can be found south of the Saharan desert in Africa (with the exceptions of the Congo rainforests and the far south). They will inhabit just about any area except those with extreme desert conditions. They live in groups called clans, which may contain as many as 80 individuals and are led by females. The group will protect their territory from other clans. The spotted hyena is quite a vocal creature and can make a large variety of sounds. One of these sounds is the “laughing” that has become synonymous with the hyena name.
The diet of a spotted hyena consists of a variety of other creatures such as zebras, wildebeests, birds, lizards, snakes, insects, gazelles, topi and buffalos. Despite their reputation as being no-good scavengers, they are actually very skilled hunters and only scavenge if the opportunity presents itself. Depending on the amount of prey available, they may hunt alone or as a group. When working as a clan, they will pick out sick, injured or young member of the herd they are hunting and try to isolate it. After a kill has been made, the leader will eat first, with the rest often squabbling with each other, or with other powerful animals like lions. A spotted hyena will eat everything except the horns of a creature and do it in record speed. A clan has been known to completely devour an adult zebra in just 15 minutes.
Breeding for the spotted hyena can take place throughout the year. Females will mate with males from another clan to prevent inbreeding. After a gestation period of about 110 days, the female spotted hyena will give birth to either 1 or 2 cubs in a den. Cubs are completely black in color, lighting up and getting their spots as they mature. The male will not help raise the cubs in any way. Siblings will soon establish their own hierarchy for the mother’s milk (they are weaned when they are 12 to 16 months old). These aggressive fights can lead to the death of the weaker cub. If the cubs can survive long enough then they can live to be up to 25 years old.
The spotted hyena is not listed as an endangered species, although they are facing decline in non-protected areas. They are often killed by farmers to protect their livestock. The loss of quality habitat is also a cause for concern. Hopefully, the spotted hyena can rebound and repopulate in both its protected and non-protected areas. After all, such a unique and well-known creature deserves to live and prosper far into the future.
