Dog or Cat? The Spotted Hyena May Be Neither

The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is a social carnivore that inhabits grasslands and deserts worldwide. Spotted hyenas are unique among canids in their preference for eating carrion over live prey. As scavengers, they consume dead animals that would otherwise go uneaten. A typical diet consists mainly of small mammals, but they have been recorded feeding on other carcasses including those of large animals like elephants and even humans. They are known to use tools, but these are likely used only for defense or to dig into termite mounds for food.

Spotted hyenas are diurnal, meaning they usually stay active during the day. However, they are crepuscular, which means that they become active around dawn and dusk. Like many nocturnal predators, spotted hyenas hunt at night, primarily using sound to locate prey. When hunting, spotted hyenas typically leave scent marks in their wake which help them find their next meal. This helps them avoid becoming a meal themselves. Males defend territories consisting of about 100 square kilometers of land. Females give birth to 2–4 cubs after a gestation period of 90 days. Cubs begin to follow their mothers at 6 months old and remain with them until they reach sexual maturity at 2 years old. 

Spotted hyena populations have declined throughout much of Africa and Asia due to habitat loss and poaching. In North America, this species has benefited from protection under the Endangered Species Act and its numbers have increased. Spotted hyenas have adapted well to human-dominated landscapes and have expanded their range to include cities where people provide artificial food sources.

Urbanization has changed the behavior of spotted hyenas, however. While wild hyenas tend to travel long distances between meals, urban hyenas instead eat smaller amounts closer to home. This change may be the result of competition with domestic dogs and cats.

The spotted hyena is a large carnivore that lives in Africa. A clan can contain anywhere from 2-200 members but usually consists of about 10 individuals. First of all, spotted hyenas use sticks to dig holes into termite mounds. These hyenas then go inside the mound and eat the termites. The reason why they do this is that termites are their primary food source.

Another way that spotted hyenas hunt is by using spoor. Spoor is a scent left behind by an animal. If a hyena finds its prey's spoor, then it knows exactly where the prey was killed. Spotted hyenas communicate through various sounds and vocalizations. Their calls help them stay together as a clan and tell other clans apart. Spotted hyena does not only eat insects, but they also eat vegetation. This helps keep their ecosystem clean. The spotted hyena has four toes on each foot. Their feet are covered in hair that keeps them warm in cold weather. They eat grasses, roots, insects, small animals, and carrion. Their favorite prey includes hares and gazelles.

This animal is known for its unique social structure, where females have exclusive territories consisting of home ranges of varying sizes, while males share overlapping home ranges. In addition, female spotted hyenas may include several subgroups inside their territory, which may consist of related offspring from different fathers. These groups may differ based on age, sex, or rank. A spotted hyena's diet consists of meat, including small mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and invertebrates, plus green vegetation and fruit. A single meal may contain up to 15% body weight, although meals rarely exceed 20%. This species has been documented eating carrion, even though it has no teeth specifically designed for this purpose. Like other hyenas, spotted hyenas have a strong sense of smell. Their sense of smell allows them to find food and locate potential mates, and also helps them navigate through unfamiliar areas. 

Spotted hyenas are solitary animals, except during mating season. Courtship rituals involve both sexes sniffing each other, rubbing noses, and wrestling playfully. Mating typically occurs at night. Gestation lasts about five months, after which time two cubs are born. The mother carries her young for about three weeks until they can stand alone. After this period, she leaves them alone, abandoning them to fend for themselves. Cubs begin to eat solid food around six months old.