The spotted hyena is a nocturnal animal. During the day, it sleeps or hides in secluded places: small caves, strange burrows or dense thickets.

Social behavior

Spotted hyenas live in family groups (clans), within which matriarchy reigns. All females, even those with a low position, are higher in the hierarchy than males. At the head of the clan is the dominant female.

Reproduction

Delivery occurs 14 weeks after mating. The female brings up to 7 cubs. Cubs are born sighted, with teeth. The babies are covered with short, single-colored fur, without spots. The milk is so nutritious that the cubs can go without food for up to a week. Often, the offspring are fed with milk up to 1.5 years.

Species and people

Spotted hyenas act as paramedics of the savanna, destroying the corpses of dead animals and thereby preventing the spread of all kinds of dangerous diseases.

Interesting Facts

The stomach juice of hyenas dissolves bones, tendons, skin, etc., not to mention various animal tissues.

Thanks to their sensitive sense of smell, hyenas are able to detect carrion from the downwind side at a distance of up to 4.2 km.

The only mammal in which, according to external sexual characteristics, it is impossible to distinguish a male from a female.