Scientific Classification
Kingdom- Animalia.
Phylum- Chordata.
Class- Mammalia.
Order- Carnivora.
Family- Hyaenidae.
What if I tell you that almost everything you know about hyenas is wrong?
The hyena has been convicted by more scandalous untruths in the animal world than the sloth
Don't be misled by the historic stereotype showcased on them in The Lion King, hyenas are one of the most complex creatures in terms of their biology and social organization.
They are considered nature’s thugs — condemned throughout history and across cultures and continents as dim-witted cowards, skulking in the back alleys, waiting for an opportunity to mug other, more noble, animals of their dinner.
The Hyenas of the world.
The taxonomic family name for hyena is Hyaenidae, which doubles as the animal’s taxonomic family that includes four extant species dispersed over four genera.
Aardwolf (Proteles cristata)
Brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea)
Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)
Among the four species of hyena, the largest, most widespread, and most misconstrued is the spotted hyena. With its scrappy fur, hunched back, and wide, drooling grin, this so-called laughing hyena may not be the prettiest of animals, But we focus on something that is skin deep!
Amazing Hyena Facts.
Here is an animal that looks and hunts like a dog but is in fact a souped-up member of the mongoose family and therefore more closely related to a cat.
The female spotted hyena is the only known mammal with no external vaginal opening. Instead, she must urinate, copulate and give birth through her multi-tasking pseudo-penis.
Every hyena clan is a matriarchy ruled by an alpha female. In the clan’s strict power structure, dominance passes down the alpha female’s line to her cubs.
The hyena is a pathetic fool in The Lion King, but these feminist freaks are the brains of the savannah — and smarter than your average carnivore
These animals are primarily scavengers, but they also kill prey. As carnivores, they mostly consume meat but have been known to supplement their diets with fruit in tough times.
They are also members of the “clean plate club,” meaning they eat every last bit of a kill, including bones and hooves. Plus, they aren’t particularly picky about what type of meat they eat. Imagine how happy our mothers would be if we practiced the same!!
They live by the Clan! Spotted hyenas gather in social groups bigger than any other carnivore — their packs can number up to 130 individuals and they’ve been observed defending territories of up to 620 square miles.
Hyenas can kill lions! In the 1990s, a massive war between hyenas and lions broke out in Ethiopia for several weeks. During the conflict, hyenas managed to take down six lions. In the end, the military had to intervene and quell the conflict.
Below is the video showing a clan taking down a wildebeest in the savanna.
Given their reputations as scavengers—and their creepy laughs—it makes sense that plenty of people don’t like hyenas. In Green Hills of Africa, Ernest Hemingway wrote:
Fisi, the hyena, hermaphroditic self-eating devourer of the dead, trailer of calving cows, ham-stringer, potential biter-off of your face at night while you slept, sad yowler, camp-follower, stinking, foul, with jaws that crack the bones the lion leaves, belly dragging, loping away on the brown plain …
Hemingway: 1, Hyenas: 0.
With that note, we come to the end of today's read, hope ya'll enjoy it!
Also just like the hyenas don't forget to grab any opportunity given as long as they dont harm anyone.
Let me know in the comments what you want to read next.
Have a wonderful week ahead...