What animal am I? -> GIRAFFE

Week 6 of our “What animal am I?” series .…Clues during the week -> featured animal revealed on Thursdays.

Clue 1: Insomnia? -> They usually sleep standing, sometimes sitting, curl their necks and sleep for about five minutes at a time, sleeping no more than 30 minutes a day.

Clue 2: built like a battering ram -> Male giraffes fight for females by “necking”. They stand side by side and swing the backs of their heads into each other’s ribs and legs. Their skulls are thick and they have horn-like growths called ossicones on the tops of their heads. Their heads are like battering rams and are capable of breaking their opponents’ bones.

Clue 3: Ruminant -> any of various cud-chewing hoofed mammals having a stomach divided into 4 (occasionally 3) compartments. Ruminants are mammals that are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion, principally through microbial actions.

GIRAFFE

Did you know: Evolution - around 15 million years ago, antelope-like animals were roaming the dry grasslands of Africa. There was nothing very special about them, but some of their necks were a bit long.

Within a mere 6 million years, they had evolved into animals that looked like modern giraffes, though the modern species only turned up around 1 million years ago. Giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth with the okapi being its closest relative.

The Giraffe’s legs alone are taller than many humans—about 1.8m, but their neck is too short to reach the ground.

Giraffe:

Lifespan: 20 – 25 years (in the wild)

Speed: 60 km/h for short sprints & 50 km/h for several km

Scientific name: Giraffa

Mass: 800kg – 1200kg (female – male adult)

Height: 4.3 – 5.7 m (female -male)

Name: “Camelopard" is an old English name for the giraffe deriving from the Ancient Greek for camel and leopard, referring to its camel-like shape & movements and its leopard-like colouring.

Herd: Giraffes live in herds of related females and their offspring, or bachelor herds of unrelated adult males, but are sociable and may gather in large aggregations. Males establish social hierarchies through "necking", which are combat bouts where the neck is used as a weapon.

Neck & necking

A giraffe's neck alone is 1.8 – 2.4 m long and weighs about 272 kg. The animal's legs are also around the same length. Their necks are however too short to reach the ground. As a result, it has to awkwardly spread its front legs or kneel to reach the ground for a drink of water.

Until recently it was assumed that giraffes’ long necks evolved to help them feed, reaching leaves on tall trees that nobody else can reach.  This advantage is real, as giraffes can and do feed up to 4.5 m high, while even quite large competitors, such as kudu, can feed up to only about 2 m high.

Picture: The giraffe (right) and its close relative the okapi (left) both have 7 cervical vertebrae (like us humans!). However the giraffe’s vertebrae’s can EACH be over 28 cm long

New research however has another theory: Male giraffes use their necks as weapons in combat to fight for females by “necking”. They stand side by side and swing the backs of their heads into each other’s ribs and legs. To help with this, their skulls are unusually thick, and they have horn-like growths called ossicones on the tops of their heads. Their heads are like battering rams and are capable of breaking their opponents’ bones. What do you think, plausible?

Horns: Both male and female giraffes have two distinct, hair-covered horns called ossicones. The ossicones of females and young are thin and display tufts of hair on top, whereas those of adult male’s end in knobs and tend to be bald on top.

Thick-skinned: The skin of a giraffe is mostly gray. Its thickness allows the animal to run through thorn bushes without being punctured. The fur may serve as a chemical defence, as its parasite repellents give the animal a characteristic scent. However some parasites feed on giraffes and they may rely on oxpeckers to clean them of ticks and alert them to danger.

High Blood pressure: The tallest ever giraffe was 5.8 m tall and to pump blood all the way up its long neck, the giraffe has several adaptations in its cardiovascular system. Its heart, which can weigh about 12 kg and measures 60 cm long, must generate approximately double the blood pressure required for a human to maintain blood flow to the brain. Giraffes have unusually high heart rates for their size, at 150 beats per minute.

Making it the biggest heart in the animal kingdom!

When the animal lowers its head the blood rushes down a complex web of arteries and veins lying very close to each other in the upper neck, prevents excess blood flow to the brain. When it raises again, the blood vessels constrict and direct blood into the brain, so the animal does not faint. The jugular veins contain several (most commonly seven) valves to prevent blood flowing back into the head while the head is lowered.

Legs & movement: The skin of the lower legs is thick and tight preventing too much blood from pouring into them. Their legs are incredibly powerful and each of them ends in a hard, sharp, 30-centimetre hoof. A giraffe can kick in any direction and in a manner of ways and its kick can not only kill a lion.

Unsurprisingly, very few predators bother an adult giraffe. However, in the Kruger National Park, lions have adapted to chase Giraffes across tar roads in the hope they slip so they can get to the Giraffes necks to kill them without exposing themselves to the dangerous kicks.

A giraffe walks like a camel, moving the legs on one side of the body at the same time, then doing the same on the other side. When galloping, the hind legs move around the front legs before the latter move forward. The giraffe relies on the forward and backward motions of its head and neck to maintain balance while galloping. If you have ever watched a giraffe gallop, you will agree – it looks like slow-motion.

Calf:  The mother gives birth standing up. The calf emerges head and front legs first and falls to the ground, severing the umbilical cord. A new-born giraffe is 1.7–2 m tall. After their +/- 2m drop at birth, the giraffe calf can stand up and walk about an hour later and within a week, it starts to sample vegetation.

Mothers with calves will gather in nursery herds, moving or browsing together. This is known as a "calving pool”.

Habitat: Grasslands and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. Its scattered range extends from Chad in the north to South Africa in the south, and from Niger in the west to Somalia in the east. Giraffes usually inhabit savannahs and woodlands.

Food: A giraffe eats around 34 kg of foliage daily, primarily acacia species. As a *Ruminants*, the giraffe first chews its food, then swallows it for processing and then visibly passes the half-digested cud up the neck and back into the mouth to chew again. Giraffes only need to drink once every few days as most of their water comes from all the plants they eat.

*Ruminant*: any of various cud-chewing hoofed mammals having a stomach divided into four (occasionally three) compartments. Ruminants are mammals that are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion, principally through microbial actions.

Tongue: The giraffe's tongue is about 45 cm long. It is purplish-black in colour, perhaps to protect against sunburn, and is useful for grasping foliage, as well as for grooming and cleaning the animal's nose.

Insomnia: In the wild, giraffes almost never lie down because of vulnerability to predators. They usually sleep standing, sometimes sitting, and they give birth standing up. When giraffes sleep, they curl their necks and sleep for about five minutes at a time, sleeping no more than 30 minutes a day.

Sounds: Whilst it was thought that giraffes did not make any sounds, this is now known to be untrue, as giraffes bellow, snort, hiss and make flute-like sounds, as well as low pitch noises beyond the range of human hearing. 

What animal am I? -> MEERKAT

Week 4 of our “What animal am I?” series .…Clues during the week -> featured animal revealed on Thursdays.

Clue 1: False identity? -> The word Meerkat is Dutch/Afrikaans for “lake cat”, although Meerkats don't live near lakes and they are not cats. They in fact belong to the Mongoose family.

Clue 2: Mob & sentry go hand in hand -> A group of meerkats is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan". Meerkats forage in a group with 1 -2 sentries watching for predators while the others search for food.

Clue 3: Claim to fame in 1994 -> Timon (Meerkat) and Pumbaa (Warthog) are the famous duo introduced in Disney's 1994 animated film “The Lion King”. Hakuna matata – no worries!

MEERKAT - Suricata

The meerkat belongs to the mongoose family and are active during the day. It is the only member of the genus Suricata. Meerkats live in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia, southwestern Angola, and in South Africa. 

Meerkat:

Lifespan: 12 – 14 years (in captivity)

Speed: 32 km/h

Scientific name: Suricata suricatta

Mass: 0.6 to 0.9 kg (adult)

Body length: 25 – 35cm (adult without tail)

Did you know: A mob/clan of meerkats will always have one "sentry" on guard to watch out for predators while the others forage for food.

False identity: The word Meerkat is Dutch/Afrikaans for “lake cat”, although Meerkats don't live near lakes and they are not cats. In addition in casual Afrikaans, mier means termite, and kat means cat. It has been speculated that the name comes from their frequent association with termite mounds or the termites they eat.

Mob: A group of meerkats is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan". A meerkat clan often contains about 20 meerkats, but some super-families have 50 or more members of which usually all are related. They are normally territorial and live in large underground tunnels. The mob comprised of equal numbers of males and females and these family groups, are led by an alpha pair, with the female being the most dominant.

Each meerkat mob will have a territory which they mark off with their scent. It is usually around 10km². They won't allow another group or mob of meerkats into their territory and will fight them, if needed. They move around within the territory each day in order to forage for food in different spots. 

If the group feels threatened by a predator, they will sometimes try mobbing or attacking it in a group. Although they usually run, they can be fierce fighters when needed.

Sentry: Meerkats forage in a group with 1 - 2 sentries watching for predators while the others search for food. Sentry duty is usually approximately an hour long. The meerkat standing guard makes peeping sounds when all is well. Meerkats have binocular vision, with two eyes on the front of the face as well as sense of smell and hearing. Generally, the sentry or lookout, will stand up straight on its hind legs using its tail as a tripod to balance.

This is so that it can get as high as possible to look for predators in the air and on the ground.

When a predator is spotted, the lookout meerkats will give a warning bark or whistle and rest of the family will quickly escape into one of the many entrances of their underground burrow. They take night shelter in their vast network of underground tunnels which also doubles to keep them cool from the hot desert sun.

Claim to fame: Timon (Meerkat) and Pumbaa (Warthog) are the famous duo introduced in Disney's 1994 animated film “The Lion King”.

Famous quote: Hakuna matata roughly translates to "there are no troubles" in Swahili, was translated to the now popular phrase "no worries." Which is the opposite of the meerkat’s behaviour!

Meerkats popularity grew further with the TV show Meerkat Manor from Animal Planet that followed several Meerkat families in the Kalahari Desert.

When colonies are exposed to human presence for a long time, they will become habituated, which allows for documentation of their natural behaviour. It is not unusual for camera crews, who must largely stay still for long periods while filming, to be utilized as convenient sentry posts.

Features: Meerkats have four toes on each foot and at the end of each of them is a claw used for digging burrows and digging for prey. Claws are also used with muscular hindlegs to help climb trees. The eyes are distinctively dark-ringed, with their coat being usually peppered grey, tan, or brown with silver. They have short parallel stripes across their backs with dark-tipped, short-haired, tapered tails.

The underside of the meerkat has no markings, but the belly has a patch which is only sparsely covered with hair and shows the black skin underneath.

Diet: Meerkats are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They catch their preferred insects, small rodents, geckos, snakes, scorpions, spiders, eggs, small mammals, millipedes, centipedes and sometimes small birds with lightning swiftness, but also feed on plants and fungi (the desert truffle).

Since they don't have a lot of body fat, meerkats need to eat every day to keep their energy up. For example, meerkat adults teach their pups how to eat a venomous scorpion: they will remove the stinger and help the pup learn how to handle the creature.

Predators: Martial eagles, tawny eagles and jackals are the main predators of meerkats. Meerkats are immune to certain types of venom, including the very strong venom of the scorpions of the Kalahari Desert. However some snakebites from the Puff Adder & Cape Cobras can lead to death.

Breeding: In each clan there is an alpha pair of meerkats that lead the group. The alpha pair typically reserves the right to mate and produce offspring. If others in the clan reproduce, then the alpha pair will usually kill the young and may kick the mother out of the clan. 

The entire group participates in the care and maintenance of young. While the pack is out foraging for food, one helper remains at the den to tend to the young. They babysit the young in the group and will protect them threats, often endangering their own lives. On warning of danger, the babysitter takes the young underground to safety and is prepared to defend them if the danger follows. Animals in the same group groom each other regularly. 

Meerkats, being wild animals, make poor pets. They can be aggressive, especially toward guests and they may also bite. They will scent-mark their owner and the house (their "territory")

What animal am I? -> AFRICAN FISH EAGLE

Week 4 of our “What animal am I?” series .…Clues during the week -> featured animal revealed on Thursdays.

Clue 1: I am not lazy, just very efficient! ->  They spend most of the time perched in a tree beside the water watching for prey and territorial intruders, it only forages for 5 to 10% of the day. African fish eagles are very efficient hunters and only hunt for about 10 minutes each day.

Clue 2: Thief & kleptoparasite -> They habitually steal prey from other species.

Humans - You think we're above it? The truth is, we're master kleptoparasites! There are many instances in history of people stealing food from other people and we also “steal” edibles from other species. You might very likely be a kleptoparasite as well ... have you eaten any honey lately?

Clue 3: I am often described as the sound of Africa -> Its “characteristic call of Africa” is, for many, evocative of the spirit or essence of Africa and often described as the “Sound of Africa”. 

Which clue gave it away?

AFRICAN FISH EAGLE

This striking raptor is one of the most iconic birds of Africa, often also described as the sound of Africa.

The adult is very distinctive in appearance with a mostly brown body; large, powerful, black wings & the head, breast and tail are snow white. The exception is the featherless face, which is yellow. The eyes are dark brown in colour. The hook-shaped beak, ideal for a carnivorous lifestyle, is yellow with a black tip.

This species may resemble the bald eagle in appearance; though related, each species occurs on different continents, with the bald eagle being resident in North America.

African Fish Eagle:

Lifespan: 12 – 24 years

Speed: 80 km/h

Scientific name: Haliaeetus vocifer

Mass: 2kg – 205kg (male; 3.2kg – 3.6kg (female)

Wingspan: 2m (males); 2.4m (females)

Length: 63 – 77cm

Did you know: African Fish Eagle in isiZulu is inkwazi

Kleptoparasite: African fish eagles are kleptoparasites, which is to say they habitually steal prey from other species. Common victims of their piratical behaviour include goliath herons and saddle-billed stork.

Besides fish, they also eat young birds (especially water-birds such as ducks & flamingos), turtles and terrapins, baby crocodiles, lizards, frogs as well as carrion (decaying flesh of dead animals). Occasionally, it may even carry off mammalian prey, such as hyraxes, monkeys and even domestic chickens.

Should they catch very large prey and it is too heavy to allow the eagle to get lift, they will drag it across the surface of the water until it reaches the shore and will eat it on the ground next to the water.

Humans - You think we're above it? The truth is, we're master kleptoparasites! There are many instances in history of people stealing food from other people and we also “steal” edibles from other species. You might very likely be a kleptoparasite as well ... have you eaten any honey lately?

African Sound: The African Fish Eagle has two distinct calls which have become known as the 'sound of Africa'. The first of the calls are used in flights or when perched and is produces by flinging its head back as it vocalises, to make it louder.

When near the nest it has more of a 'quock' sound - the female is a little shriller and less mellow than the male.

Its “characteristic call of Africa” is, for many, evocative of the spirit or essence of Africa.

Fish eagle sound clip: CLICK HERE (source:klipvid1)

Habitat: This is a generalist species, requiring only large open bodies of water with sufficient prey and a good perch, as evident by the number of habitat types in which this species may be found, including grassland, swamps, marshes, tropical rain-forest, fynbos, and even desert-bordering coastlines. The African fish eagle is absent from arid areas with little surface water.

Acrobatic aerial skills: Courtship includes the birds calling in duet as they fly over their territory. The actual courtship display involves the male diving down at the female who roles over in flight to present her talons.

The female is usually the most aggressive of the pair in defense of the territory. If another female violates her airspace, she will either call to see it off or more likely attack it from below. They interlock talons and actually tumble sometimes 100m to the ground.

African Fish Eagles are believed to be monogamous and mate for life. Even so, the male must win the heart of the female each year. The pair meets in mid-air, locks talons and free-falls until they separate just above the ground.

For life: African fish eagles breed during the dry season, when water levels are low. They are believed to mate for life. Pairs often maintain two or more nests, which they frequently reuse. Because nests are reused and built upon over the years, they can grow very large, some reaching 2 m across and 1.2 m deep.

The females lay 1-3 eggs which are primarily white with a few reddish speckles. The chicks leave the nest at the age of about 3 months. The plumage of the juvenile is brown in colour, and the eyes are paler compared to the adult. They will take 4 – 5 years to develop their magnificent adult plumage.

Siblicide (the killing of an infant siblings, could also be mediated by the parents) does not normally occur with African Fish Eagle and the parents often successfully rear two or three chicks.

Talons: To help grip fish and other slippery prey, the African Fish Eagle has long sharp talons which are coated in barbs called spiricules.

Lazy or efficient? The African fish eagle spends most of the time perched in a tree beside the water watching for prey and territorial intruders, it only forages for 5 to 10% of the day. African fish eagles are very efficient hunters and only hunt for about 10 minutes each day.

Sight & flight: An eagle in flight can reputedly sight a rabbit 3.2km away. Talon–eye coordination is a hunting imperative. From its perch at the top of trees, the eagle can dive at speeds of 200 – 322 km/h to catch its prey by its talons.

Eagles (and most large birds) fly by soaring; it's much more energy efficient than flapping their wings. We do use the technique for our own flights.

Claim to Fame: This bird’s conspicuous nature and charismatic presence ensure it figures prominently in the folklore and heraldry of several nations. You will find it on the Zimbabwean & Zambian Flags as well as on the coat of arms of Namibia, Zambia & South Sudan.

Happy Mother's Day!

NOTHING IS REALLY LOST UNTIL MOM CAN’T FIND IT.
😉 – this one really made me laugh as it certainly applies in our household!

What animal am I? -> BUFFALO

Week 3 of our “What animal am I?” series .…Clues during the week -> featured animal revealed on Thursdays.

Clue 1: Bosses all around -> The adult male buffalo's horns have a fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head referred to as a "boss".

Clue 2: I am Herbivore but will hunter when I feel like it -> They have a great dislike for predators and given the chance, they will attack and trample young/vulnerable lion/hyena/cheetah without being attacked first. Their best defense is to attack and that is what makes them so dangerous.

Clue 3: Mafia of the animal kingdom -> They are referred to as the “mafia” of the animal kingdom because of its steely gaze, never flinching and unnerving demeanor that demands respect. The strong silent types who aren’t fond of those interrupting them. These strong characters never forgive and simply ambush their “prey” without giving any type of warning signal.

CAPE BUFFALO (African Buffalo)

The collective noun for buffalo is “herd”, but other terms include “gang” and “obstinacy”.

The Cape buffalo is the silent strong type you don’t want to upset! Their unflinching steel gaze will make you squirm out of their way. They go about their daily routine and don’t like interruption. They carry on their path, no matter what or who is in their way. The Cape buffalo are 4x stronger than an ox.

Lifespan: 20 years

Speed: 56 km/h

Scientific name: Syncerus caffer

Mass: 350 kg – 870 km (adult)

Height:  100 cm – 170cm (adult, at shoulder)

Length: 200cm – 335cm

Boss: The Cape buffalo is a very robust species; it has a long but stocky body and short but thickset legs. The adult male buffalo's horns have a fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head referred to as a "boss". The horns form fully when the animal reaches the age of five or six years, but the bosses do not become "hard" till 8 to 9 years old. In cows, the horns are, on average, 10–20% smaller, and they do not have a boss.

The body of Cape buffalo is covered with hair that can be brownish to black in color. Calves of have reddish coats.

Friends with benefits: The Oxpecker is just that, they have a symbiotic relationship! They sit on the Cape Buffalo’s hide and remove the ticks/insects embedded in their skins.

Food: While not particularly demanding to their habitat, they require water daily, and therefore depend on constant sources of water. The Cape buffalo is a grazer and prefers tall grasses to short shrubs. Herds of buffalo mow down grasses and make way for more selective grazers.

Dominance: Adult bulls spar in play, dominance interactions, or actual fights. A bull approaches another, lowing, with his horns down, and waits for the other bull to do the same thing. When sparring, the bulls twist their horns from side to side. Actual fights are violent but rare and brief.

Dagga boy: A lone buffalo is most likely an old male buffalo also called “dagga boy” (“Dagga” referring to the thick black clay that coats their skin; ‘dagga’ being another word for mud). Dagga boys are older bulls past their prime which have separated from their heard as they no longer can compete with the younger dominant males. They are solitary or form small group of other dagga boys.

Pathfinder: The most experienced cows are known as pathfinders. They are responsible for taking the herd to the most beneficial area for grazing and water.

Calves: Buffaloes mate and give birth only during the rainy seasons. Buffalo cows have their first calves at age 4 or 5 and they become completely reliant on their mothers, right up until a year old.

Voting? Females appear to exhibit some sort of "voting behavior". During resting time, the females stand up, shuffle around, and sit back down again. They sit in the direction they think they should move. After an hour of more shuffling, the females travel in the direction they decide. This decision is communal and not based on hierarchy or dominance however the pathfinders will lead them.

Strong bond: When chased by predators, a herd sticks close together and makes it hard for the predators to pick off one member. Calves are gathered in the middle. A buffalo herd responds to the distress call of a captured member and tries to rescue it. A calf's distress call gets the attention of not only the mother, but also the herd. Buffaloes engage in mobbing behavior when fighting off predators. They have been recorded killing a lion and chasing lions up trees and keeping them there for two hours, after the lions have killed a member of their group. Lion cubs can get trampled and killed.

Diseases: The Cape buffalo is susceptible to many diseases, including bovine tuberculosis, corridor disease and foot and mouth disease. This can be devastating if they encounter infected domestic cattle. As with many diseases, these problems remain dormant within a population as long as the health of the animals is good. These diseases do, however, restrict the legal movements of the animals and fencing infected areas from unaffected areas is enforced.

Herbivore - Hunter: Other than humans, Cape Buffaloes have few predators and are capable of defending themselves against (and killing) lions. Lions do kill and eat buffalo regularly, but it typically takes quite a few lions to bring down a single adult buffalo.

An average-sized crocodile will attack only old solitary animals and young calves, though they can kill healthy adults too.

If a buffalo herd comes under attack, they form a circle around their young. All the adults’ face outwards in an effort to hide the vulnerable. The adults lower their heads and form a protective barrier with their horns.

They have a great dislike for predators and given the chance, they will attack and trample young/vulnerable lion/hyena/cheetah without being attached first.

Their best defense is to attack and that is what makes them so dangerous.

Big 5: In Africa, the Big Five game animals are the Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant & Cape Buffalo. The term stems from the five most difficult & dangerous animals in Africa to hunt on foot. The Cape Buffalow is known as "the Black Death" or "widowmaker" and is widely regarded as a very dangerous animal.

According to some estimates, it gores and kills over 200 people every year. Buffaloes are sometimes reported to kill more people in Africa than any other animal, although the same claim is also made of hippos and crocodiles.

Mafia: They are referred to as the “mafia” of the animal kingdom because of its steely gaze, never flinching and unnerving demeanor that demands respect. The strong silent types who aren’t fond of those interrupting them. These strong characters never forgive and simply ambush their “prey” without giving any type of warning signal.

Domestic: Its unpredictable temperament means that the Cape Buffalo has never been domesticated.

What animal am I? -> HYENA

Week 2 of our “What animal am I?” series …Clues during the week -> featured animal revealed on Thursdays.

Clue 1: Girl Power 👧 -> females rank higher than males, are larger in size and the group is led by one powerful alpha female.

Clue 2: I have a big heart 💗 -> spotted hyena has a proportionately large heart, constituting close to 1% of its body weight, thus giving it great endurance in long chases. In contrast, a lion's heart makes up only 0.45–0.57 percent of its body weight.

Clue 3: I can be plain, striped or spotted -> The brown hyena is plain, the striped hyena & Aardwolf are striped, and the spotted hyena has spots.

HYENA

Hyenas are not members of the dog or cat families, instead they have their own unique feliform (“cat-like”) carnivoran mammals family -> Hyaenidae.

With only four extant species, it is the fifth-smallest biological family in the Carnivora, and one of the smallest in the class Mammalia.

1. SPOTTED HYENA, largest and also known as the LAUGHING HYENA
2. BROWN HYENA (rarest of hyenas at present)
3. SPRIPED HYENA
4. AARDWOLF (it's a hyena, not a wolf)

Despite their low diversity, hyenas are unique and VITAL components of most African ecosystems. 

They're more closely related to cats than dogs, but their closest relatives are the Herpestidae -> mongooses, meerkats etc

Hyenas live in groups called clans or packs and are creatures of the night.

SPOTTED HYENA:

Lifespan: 12 – 25 years

Speed: 60 km/h

Scientific name: Crocuta Crocuta

Mass: Female: 44 – 64 kg (up to 82kg!), Male: 40 – 55 kg

(Striped hyena: 22 – 55 kg, Brown hyena: 40 – 44 kg)

Height:  70 – 92 cm (adult, at shoulder)

(Striped hyena: 60 – 80 cm, Brown hyena: 70cm)

Girl Power: Spotted hyenas are social mammals and live in structured groups, called clans. There is a strict hierarchy, where females rank higher than males, and the group is led by one powerful alpha female. Males have the lowest status in the pack and are forced to leave their family when they reach sexual maturity. Their fight to enter a new pack is often deadly and the dominant female will determine their fate.

Cubs: A Female hyena gives birth to 2 – 4 cubs a year, which she nurses in a den. Cubs are born with soft, brownish black hair, and weigh 1.5 kg on average. Unique among carnivorous mammals, spotted hyenas are also born with their eyes open and with 6–7 mm long canine teeth and 4 mm long incisors. Female hyenas only have two nipples, therefore cubs often fight for food from the mother which is highly nutritious, sometimes to the death.

As the youngsters grow up, males will often leave to join a different clan, whereas females will remain in the same clan for life.

Looks: The spotted hyena is the largest of them has a strong and well-developed neck and forequarters, but relatively underdeveloped hindquarters. The rump is rounded rather than angular, which prevents attackers coming from behind.

For its size, the spotted hyena has one of the most powerfully built skulls among the Carnivora. The dentition is more dual purposed (hunter & scavenger) than that of other modern hyena species. Combined with large jaw muscles and a special vaulting to protect the skull against large forces, these characteristics give the spotted hyena a powerful bite which can exert a pressure of 40% more force than a leopard can generate. The jaws of the spotted hyena outmatch those of the brown bear in bone-crushing ability!

The female hyena is dominant, larger in size and more aggressive than the male. Females have a ‘pseudo-penis’, which is an elongated clitoris (only mammalian species to lack an external vaginal opening), though they are not hermaphrodite.

Big heart: The spotted hyena has a proportionately large heart, constituting close to 1% of its body weight, thus giving it great endurance in long chases. In contrast, a lion's heart makes up only 0.45–0.57 percent of its body weight.

Predator: The reputation of the hyena as a coward is unfounded and hyena are aggressive competitors in the bush with great endurance and persistence. Unlike its BROWN & STRIPED cousins, the SPOTTED HYENA is a predator, not a scavenger.

They kill and eat baby lion, leopard and other predators. Spotted hyenas often hunt in groups and can take down big animals such as wildebeest, antelope, zebras and young hippos. Smaller snacks on their menu include birds, fish, snakes, lizards and insects.

Hyena are cannibals and will attack and eat other hyenas, including their young.

Adaptability: Its success is due in part to its adaptability and opportunism; it is primarily a hunter but may also scavenge, with the capacity to eat and digest skin, bone and other animal waste. Equipped with a super-strong jaw and teeth, the spotted hyena makes the most efficient use of animal matter of all African carnivores and nothing goes to waste.

The spotted hyena displays greater flexibility in its hunting and foraging behaviour than other African carnivores; it hunts alone, in small parties of 2–5 individuals or in large groups. During a hunt, spotted hyenas often run through ungulate herds in order to select an individual to attack. Once selected, their prey is chased over a long distance, often several kilometres, at speeds of up to 60 km/h.

Reputation: Hyenas feature prominently in the folklore and mythology of human cultures that live alongside them. Hyenas are commonly viewed as frightening and worthy of contempt. In some cultures, hyenas are thought to influence people’s spirits, rob graves, and steal livestock and children. Other cultures associate them with witchcraft, using their body parts in traditional African medicine.

Cackle: Spotted hyenas make a sound resembling laughter when they are excited which gives them their nickname ‘laughing hyena’.  Their cackling sounds can be heard from a distance of 4,8km…. so listen out for me 😄