Fast Facts
• Largest of 4 species• Live in large clans
(>80 individuals)• Weigh ~ 90-140 lbs• 2-5 feet tall• 2-4 feet in length• Females are larger than males• Known for their ‘laughter’
Behavior
• Rest and give birth in dens – Rarely dig themselves– Use abandoned lairs of
warthogs• A single den can house several females
and dozens of cubs at once• Spotted hyena societies are more
complex than those of other carnivorous mammals
• Packs are led by an Alpha female
Feeding• Highly intelligent – have
very good eye sight• Scavenge as well as hunt
for food–Mainly hoofed animals
(wildebeest, antelope)– Follow vultures to
carcasses– Can digest everything from
fur to bone
• Frequently clash with lions over food
Reproduction
• Breed year round• Males do not
contribute to parental care
• Birth is difficult - 10% of first time mothers die during labor• Cubs are born with their eyes open and 2 in. canine teeth
• Cubs will attack each other from the moment they are born
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