Scientific classification

Animalia
Kingdom:

Chordata
Phylum:

Mammalia
Class:

Carnivora
Order:

Hyaenidae
Family:

Hyaena
Genus:

H. hyaena
Species:

The Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is an omnivorous mammal of the family

hyaenidae. It lives in Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan and western India. It is extinct in
Europe, but can occasionally be spotted in Anatolia, Turkey. Striped Hyenas are largely
scavengers, but will also eat small animals, fruit and insects. Larger subspecies are
known to hunt animals as large as wild boar. They are nomadic, moving from water hole
to water hole, but never straying more than 6 miles from one. Striped hyenas hunt in
solitude but do congregate in small family groups. Like many other animals of hot
climates, their ears radiate heat.
The striped hyena is generally considered solitary, but has some social organization. It
forages individually and is rarely seen in groups. It does, however, associate in small
family groups at the den. The striped hyena live in the tropical savanna, grasslands, Semi-
desert, scrub forest, and woodland.
second largest hyena species
Near Threatened (IUCN 2.3
a roundish head with a pointed muzzle and pointed ears. It is generally pale grey or beige
in colour with a black patch on the throat.
It sports 5-9 distinct vertical stripes on the flanks, with clearer black transverse and
horizontal stripes on the legs.[3] A seasonal dimorphism in pelt colour is noticeable; the
stripes of the summer coat are much blacker and more well defined than in the winter
coat.[2] The mid-dorsal line has a mane which can be held erect, making it appear 38%
bigger, which it does when it feels threatened. The mane serves as a signalling device
during social interactions. It has a long, bushy tail which is black and white in colour,
with long, coarse hair. Four toes with short, blunt, non-retractable claws are present on
the feet. Males weigh between 26-41 kilograms (57-90 pounds), while females weigh 26-
34 kg (57-75 lbs). Excluding the tail, total body length varies between 1.0 and 1.15m.
Shoulder height is between 0.66-0.75m.[3] Striped hyenas have scent glands resembling
fairly large, hairless pouches which are located at the opening of the anus.[2]

Reproduction
Litter sizes in the wild vary from 1-4 throughout the year with an average of 3. In
captivity, average litter size is 1-5. Intensive digging behaviour by the female precedes
parturition, and is often followed by a day of postnatal oestrus three weeks later. The cubs
are born blind, with closed ear canals. Fur colour at this stage ranges from white to grey
with clear black stripes. The cubs open their eyes after 7-8 days, while the teeth will erupt
after 3 weeks. Solid food is ingested after a month. Weaning ages vary from eight weeks
to 12 months. Both the male and female partake in feeding the cubs. The age of sexual
maturity has been reported to be inconsistent. In Tashkent zoo, a female was four years
old when she gave birth to her first litter, while 15 month old wild individuals in Israel
were reported to bare three large embryos.[3]
Caves are the striped hyena's preferred dens sites. Den entrances are fairly narrow and
may be hidden by large boulders. A width of 0.67 m and 0.72 m for the entrance was
reported from measurements of two dens in the Karakum desert. The Karakum dens lead
3m and 2.5m downward, while extending over a distance of 4.15 m and 5 m. There were
no lateral extensions or special chambers, contrasting greatly with more elaborate designs
discovered in Israel exceeding 27 m in length.[3

Shoulder Height:
23-30 in. (60-75 cm)

Head and Body Length:

40-47 in. (103-119 cm)
Tail Length:
10-18 in. (26-47 cm)

Weight:
55-121 lb. (25-55 kg)

Life Information

Gestation: 88-92 days

Litter size: 1-6

Age at sexual maturity:

Male: 2-3 years

Female: 2-3 years

Life Span: ?

Physical Appearance

The striped hyena is a medium-sized canid-like animal. The shoulders sit higher than the hips,
giving its back the low-sloping appearance. They have a rounded head with a wide, pointed
muzzle. Their ears are long and pointed. The tail is bushy, covered in long, course hair. They
have four toes on each foot, with short, blunt, non-retractile claws.

The striped hyena is a greyish brown to beige in color, with black stripes across their back, and
black spots or stripes across their legs. Their muzzle, throat, and ears are entirely black. They
have a medium sized mane on their neck and shoulders, and long hair on their body. Their mane
can stand erect when the animal is frightened.

Males may be slightly larger than females, although there is not a very prominent sexual
dimorphism in this species.
nomadic animal that spends its time wandering from water hole to water hole. Unlike the spotted,
the striped is nocturnal. During the day, it sleeps in an abandoned burrow or cave, and does most
of its foraging and wandering at night. Though they may forage alone, they are not solitary
animals. They associate in small family groups that usually include the mother, father and their
offspring of many generations. The younger adults bring food back to the den to feed the cubs.
Within the groups, animals of the same sex tend to avoid one another, while animals of opposite
sex enjoyed each others company, mutually grooming and nuzzling. The striped hyena occupies
a home range that is marked off regularly by "pasting" with the anal glands. Like other hyenas,
the striped uses "latrines", special areas where feces is deposited, always a certain distance
away from the denning area.

Subspecies

• H. h. barbara -- northwest Africa (IUCN: Data Deficient)

• H. h. dubbah -- northeast Africa

• H. h. hyaena -- India

• H. h. sultana -- Arabian Peninsula

• H. h. syriaca -- Syria, Asia Minor and the Caucasus

Very distinguished features
Striped hyenas have broad heads with dark eyes, thick muzzles, and large, pointed ears.
Their muzzle, ears, and throat are entirely black, but their coats may be golden yellow,
brown, or gray with black stripes on the body and legs. The stealthy hyena camouflages
well in tall, dry grass. The most striking feature on the hyena is the legs: the front legs are
much longer than the hind legs. This gives hyenas their distinctive walk, making them
seem like they're always limping uphill. Yet hyenas are agile and can run, trot, and walk
with ease.
 Habitat: arid steppes, dry rocky brush, and
acacia scrubland

A Striped hyena Queen and her cup

Track: 51mm (2") x 51mm (2")
d en