WELCOME!, To the Wild World of Hyenas!

WELCOME!, To the Wild World of Hyenas!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Hyena Interesting Facts

  • Four Species of Hyenas
    • Striped
    • Brown
    • Aardwolf 
    • Spotted
  • Inhabit large, dry, open savannas found in Africa
  • Live to be about 19
  • Usually 38 to 59 inches long
  • Females Weight
    • 120 to 190
  • Male Weight: 
    • 100 to 135
Illustration: Hyena compared with adult man
  • Have a distinctive laugh
  • In ancient Egypt they were bread for food
  • Cubs are born with eyes open
  • Can eat up to one third of body weight and one sitting
  • More related to cats than dogs (common misconception)
  • Use a method of distraction and attacking as a pack to kill prey, otherwise scavengers
  • In the Lion King Whoppi Goldberg played the Hyena with the long hair

    Spotted Hyena Reproductive System



    • Much Like Humans
      • Internal reproduction
      • Except) Both male and female have a penis
        • The female penis stretches to copulate, so  that means it can only copulate with ones it chooses to with
    • Copulation
    • Gestation Period 90 to 110 Days
    • Usually one to four young at once

    Spotted Hyena Digestive System


    • Much Like Humans
    • Herbivore
      • Eats both plants and animals
    • Maximizes Full Potential of Nutrients For All Parts of Prey
      • Only regurgitates horns and hooves of animals

    Spotted Hyena Circulatory System

    • Closed circulatory system
      • Full  Body Cavities
      • Heart
      • Blood
      • Blood Vessels
      • Veins
      • Capillaries
      • 4-Chambered Heart

    Spotted Hyena Respiratory System Features

    • Breath much like humans
    • Use a secondary palate
      • This separates the naval cavity from the oral cavity
      • Allows the oxygen gas exchange to occur while eating
    • Nose
    • Mouth
    • Phayrnx - Throat
    • Larynx - Voice box
    • Trachea - Wind pipe
    • Lungs

    Spotted Hyena Nervous System

    • Central Nervous System
    • Organized nervous system, much like humans and great apes
    • Large Brains
    • Supporting nervous cord
    • Sensative transmitting neurons

    Skeletal System - Spotted Hyena



    • Developed neck and hind legs
    • Rounded gluteus maximus rather than angular
    • Wide, flat head (much larger than Striped Hyena
    • Powerful, bone-crushing jaw
    • Padded paws

    Spotted Hyena Integumentay Systems

    • Protection Features:
      • Skin - Hold water and protect from dehydration
        1. Epidermis (Outer Layer)
        2. Dermis (Middle Layer)
        3. Hypodermis (Inner Layer)
      • Claws - used for protection from predators
      • Hair - Protect from sun burn and camouflage

    Spotted Hyena External Anatomy

    Tuesday, January 3, 2012

    Classification of a Hyena (Spotted Hyena)

    • Kingdom: Animalia
      • Phylum: Chordata
        • Class: Mammalia
          • Order: Carnivora
            • Family: Hyaenidae
              • Genus: Crocuta
                • Species: Crocuta