Striped Hyena
From Halbeeg, the open encyclopedia · Af-Soomaali
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The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is a carnivorous mammal and member of the hyena family (Hyaenidae). It is one of four hyena species in existence. It is distinguished by dark stripes on its sides and legs, and by long hair on its back that stands upright when the animal is frightened or in conflict.
The striped hyena inhabits eastern and northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia to India. It is a nocturnal animal that feeds mainly on carrion, and has adapted to arid, sparsely vegetated habitats with little rainfall.
Appearance
The striped hyena has yellowish or tan fur with dark stripes. The head is large and the face short; the ears are long and pointed. Like other hyenas, its front legs are longer than its hind legs, which gives the back a sloped appearance. Its bite and teeth are powerful, capable of crushing bones to access the marrow. The striped hyena is smaller than the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) found in Africa.
Diet and behaviour
The striped hyena's diet consists mainly of carrion from dead animals, which it can locate over great distances. It also eats small animals, birds, insects, fruits, and seeds. It often follows the tracks of lions or leopards to scavenge what they leave behind. In this way, the striped hyena plays a role in cleaning the environment by reducing the spread of disease from carrion.
The striped hyena typically travels alone or in pairs, which distinguishes it from the spotted hyena, which forms large groups. During the day it shelters in caves, rock crevices, or burrows. It produces litters of small numbers of young; the pups depend on the mother and den for several months.
Relationship with humans
The striped hyena sometimes attacks small livestock and goats, leading herders to kill or poison them. There are many stories and cultural and folk traditions in Somali and Middle Eastern cultures concerning hyenas, and in some cases parts of the animal have been used in traditional medicine. The global population of this species is declining in many areas, with the main causes being hunting by humans and the loss of habitat and carrion.