Did you know?
Spotted hyenas do not only eat carcass, but are also successful hunters. They have got the strongest jaws among all of the carnivores on land and their bite has a force of over 9,000 Newtons. This means that they are able to crush the bones of large ungulates as well as devour them due to their extremely strong stomach acids. They eat their prey almost entirely and thus act as a kind of “health police” by preventing the spread of disease.
Characteristics
| Classification | Order: carnivores, family: hyenas; subfamily: hyaeninae |
|---|---|
| Diet | Zebras, gnus, gazelles, birds, small animals, carcass and partially also fruits |
| Habitat | Open steppes |
| Reproduction | Mating period: all year round; gestation period: – days, – o spring; suckling period: ca. months; sexual maturity at – years |
Status according to Red List
More information you will get on the web page of the IUCN Red List.
