Spotted hyena

Also known as Laughing Hyena, it gets chewed a lot for being cruddy and a good-for-nothing scavenger!


Spotted hyena

EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE

Also known as Laughing Hyena, it gets chewed a lot for being cruddy and a good-for-nothing scavenger!

Population 27,000 – 47,000

As the largest species within the hyena family, spotted hyenas are formidable predators. Their muscular build and powerful limbs allow them to run for miles in pursuit of prey without tiring, a testament to their endurance and physical prowess. One of the most remarkable features of the spotted hyena is its bite force, which is the strongest of any mammal, allowing them to crush bones and access nutritious marrow within. This capability not only provides them with a vital food source but also plays an important role in nutrient recycling within their environment.

While spotted hyenas are known to scavenge, they are also skilled hunters capable of taking down a variety of prey, including large antelopes and wildebeest. Their ability to consume and process bones makes them one of nature’s most efficient cleanup crews, helping to prevent the spread of disease by consuming carcasses left in the wild. Their diet is varied and opportunistic, allowing them to adapt to different environmental conditions and food availability.

Spotted hyenas live in complex social groups known as clans, which can number up to 80 individuals. These clans are matriarchal, with females being larger and more dominant than males. The social hierarchy within a clan is intricate, with fierce competition for rank and status.

Communication among spotted hyenas is sophisticated, involving a wide range of vocalizations, body postures, and scents. Contrary to the “laughing” descriptor, spotted hyenas’ vocalizations convey important information about age, identity, and status within the clan. These sounds can include whoops, grunts, groans, and giggles, each serving a specific purpose in their communication repertoire.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Algeria
2014
Possibly Extinct
Angola
2014
Benin
2014
Botswana
2014
Burkina Faso
2014
Burundi
2014
Cameroon
2014
Central Af. Rep.
2014
Chad
2014
Congo-Brazzaville
2014
Côte D’ivoire
2014
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
2014
Djibouti
2014
Equatorial Guinea
2014
Eritrea
2014
Eswatini
2014
Ethiopia
2014
Gabon
2014
Seasonality Uncertain
Gambia
2014
Ghana
2014
Guinea-Bissau
2014
Guinea
2014
Kenya
2014
Malawi
2014
Mali
2014
Mauritania
2014
Mozambique
2014
Namibia
2014
Niger
2014
Nigeria
2014
Rwanda
2014
Senegal
2014
Sierra Leone
2014
Somalia
2014
South Africa
2014
South Sudan
2014
Sudan
2014
Tanzania
2014
Togo
2014
Possibly Extinct
Uganda
2014
Zambia
2014
Zimbabwe
2014

Anything we've missed?

Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!

Suggest an edit

Get to know me

Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Clan

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No