Africa inexperienced traveler lurk many dangers at every turn.This continent is inhabited by a variety of animals, which is better not to meet alone.It is not only lions, crocodiles, leopards, cheetahs, rhinos, elephants and hyenas.At night, these gregarious predators are activated, and woe to the traveler who does not have time to dissolve a large fire and get firewood for the night.
Spotted hyena - the largest representative of mammalian scavengers.It is the most embodies all the habits, characteristics and structure, typical of this type.The body length of the spotted hyena is from 95 to 166 cm, tail - from 26 to 36 cm and the height of the withers - 80 cm.
view that although it has a relatively small size, however, dangerous to humans, especially in the pack.This is a very fierce predator.Spotted Hyenas - the only mammals whose jaws are able to create a lot of pressure (from 50 to 70 kg per sq. Cm).They are easy to crack the bones of hippopotamus.Spotted hyenas are listed in the Red Book.They live in the wild and 25 years in captivity - to forty.
Habitat spotted hyenas - Wild Africa
This kind of predators can be found only in Africa.The most common habitat of spotted hyenas - the whole area south of the Sahara.This is mainly the south and east Africa, near the Cape of Good Hope, in the crater of Ngorongoro, in Kenya, the Serengeti, Botswana and Namibia.
Wild Africa is rich in desert and jungle terrain, but there spotted hyenas do not occur.The favorite place of residence - savanna.These animals are not very friendly with other members of their own species, so it is very often kicked and brown striped hyenas with the places they inhabited.
What is the spotted hyena
representatives of this type have a broad black snout that resembles a dog, with rounded ears.Spotted hyenas have very powerful jaws, back sloping, hind legs shorter than the front.Despite the uneven height of the legs, hyenas are able to develop a speed of up to 65 km / h.Limbs predators tetradigitate claws do not retract.When running hyenas tread on the toes.The coat is short in animals other than coarse hair on the back and neck, which form a mane.
Color
spotted hyena has several colors.It can be dark or light.Coat color - yellow-brown with dark or light brown spots on the body.The muzzle is black, at the back has a reddish tint.Head brown, without spots.The limbs feet with a shade of gray.Tail - brown with a black tip.
Voice
spotted hyena emits up to 11 different sounds.A long howl, more like a "laughter", these animals are used for contact between them.During bouts of prey they "giggle", "laugh", growl and scream.Moans and screams are used to greeting.
Interestingly, the males flock to the sound responds rarely or belatedly, and the signals given by females immediately.A low growl and grunting sounds (with mouth closed) express aggression.Awesome "laugh" like clucking, published with the excitement and danger (for example, when a hyena chase).Loud and deep vibrating growl predators use to attack and defense, as a threat.When the lion hyena gives signals fellow with a loud low growl.
hierarchy in schools
wild hyenas live in matriarchal clans, squares up to 1800 square meters.km.In flocks there is a rigid hierarchy.Females dominate the place of the opposite sex.At the same time there existed an additional division.Adults are the main.They were the first to begin eating, resting at the entrance to the den, grow more offspring.Females with a lower position in the pack do not get these privileges, but belong to the middle of the hierarchy.
Males occupy the lowest rung.At the same time they also observed a similar separation.Do individuals have high priority access to females.Nevertheless, all demonstrate a total submission to the other sex.For breeding males often join the new flocks.
among spotted hyenas are constant inter-clan war for habitat.The boundaries of the territory is constantly patrolled by these predators and separated faeces and anal secretions odorous glands.The number one clan can reach from 10 to 100 individuals.
Genitals
spotted hyena has unique genitalia.All females have a body in the form of a penis.To distinguish the sex of the animals can only be experienced.Female genitalia are similar to those of the male.The clitoris is very similar to the penis.Beneath it is the scrotum.Through clitoris member passes the urethra.
enemies spotted hyenas
These predators have «eternal" rivals.Lions and hyenas are constantly competing.This struggle sometimes takes violent forms.Hyenas attack like little cubs and often kill the old and sick adults.In response, Lions kill hyena.The war is between predators and food.Lions and hyenas often chased each other from production.The victory went to the more numerous "detachment."
The spotted hyena feed
These animals are very picky in food.But the main food for the hyenas - carrion.They can hunt and eat fresh meat, but also do not disdain dead animals, and sometimes feed on congeners.As mentioned above, these animals developed very jaw.For this reason, spotted hyenas eat every part of the body production, leaving almost nothing.This capability is performed by a unique digestive system, as well as a very active gastric juice.
What can eat a hyena?Wildlife has created a unique "nurses."These predators are able to absorb all - skin, bones, hooves, horns, teeth, hair and feces.All that is digested in the stomach during the day.These predators feed on dead animals, and that is almost completely decomposed.
However, 50% of the diet of spotted hyenas make up the corpses of hoofed animals (rhinos, zebras, gazelles, antelopes, and so on. D.).Predators often pursue the sick and old animals.Eat as hares, porcupines, gazelles, warthogs and many other animals.For example, a pack of hyenas can attack even giants such as giraffe, rhinoceros and hippopotamus.
Hunting
Behind these predators to preserve the reputation of cowardly animals, but it is not so.According to numerous studies conducted, hyenas - excellent hunters who excel in this art lions.These scavengers are most active at night.In search of food hyena travel long distances - up to 70 kilometers per night.During the day they hunt less frequently, preferring to rest in the shade or lie down in the water in the shallow water.
hunting hyenas is vymatyvanii long production run.These predators can run a great distance.When they catch up with the prey, then gnaw the main artery blood on the feet.Hyenas do not strangle their victims, like many other predators, and even begin to tear living flesh.
Hunting takes place in different ways.In a medium-sized gazelle go alone, antelope - small groups of 3 to 4 individuals.On the hunt emit different sounds, but more often - "laughter", turning into a prolonged howl.
its excellent sense of smell, the African hyena can smell carrion at a distance of more than 4 kilometers.For hunting they use sight and hearing.Despite the eternal war with lions, hyenas pick their prey can not, in the enemy camp if there is a healthy adult male.
Spotted African predator - this amazing animal.Hyena has some habits in their cowardice, which is best described as cautious.She is very aggressive and defiant.If the hungry hyena, it is able to tear even larger animals.The hunt is trying to use his immense power of the jaws, a quick run and ferocity.Hungry hyena and can attack humans.However, it is so strong that a human body can carry a gallop easily and alone.
Reproduction
for the breeding spotted hyena uses burrows of other animals or small caves.Cubs, despite his aggressiveness, she eats.Increased malice due to the high content of a hormone androgen.But this quality is given by nature to protect the offspring to females could protect and feed their young, which reach sexual maturity only to 3 years.
Progeny appears before the rainy season.Young female bears about 100 days.One litter can contain up to four children simultaneously.In the light, they appear already sighted and with good hearing.After 3 months, babies already weigh more than 14 kg.
If young gay, almost immediately after the birth, they begin to fight to the death.Spotted hyenas feed their young with milk over a year, but nevertheless it does not prevent youngsters begin to hunt and fully fed from the first months of life.
Use hyenas nature
These animals occupy one of the main places in the maintenance of ecosystem savannah.This natural "nurses."They are killed each year for almost 12% of wildebeest in Serengetti, allowing herbivore species to maintain their density within reasonable limits.Basically, in the teeth of spotted hyenas get old or sick animals.
