Spotted Hyena: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Hunters · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. Female spotted hyenas are in charge. They are bigger than the males and boss them around.
2. Hyena jaws outmatch a brown bear's at crushing bone. Wild hyenas have cracked giraffe long bones 7 cm across.
3. Spotted hyenas run at up to 60 km/h. Their heart is close to 1% of body weight, giving great endurance in long chases.
4. Hyena cubs inherit their mother's social rank, so daughters can take over as matriarch when she is gone.
5. Hyenas hunt in whatever way works: on their own, in small teams of 2 to 5, or in big groups.

The quiz

1. Who dominates in spotted hyena society?

• The females (correct)
• The males
• The youngest cubs
• Lone wanderers

The females are bigger than the males and boss them around.

2. How thick were the giraffe bones that wild hyenas have cracked open?

• 1 cm
• 17 cm
• 7 cm (correct)
• 70 cm

Free-ranging hyenas have cracked giraffe long bones 7 cm in diameter.

3. What share of its body weight is a hyena's heart?

• About 0.1%
• Close to 10%
• About 25%
• Close to 1% (correct)

The heart makes up close to 1% of body weight, giving great endurance.

4. What do hyena cubs inherit from their mother?

• Her territory
• Her social rank (correct)
• Her hunting grounds
• Her fur pattern

A cub takes on its mother's place in the clan's pecking order.

5. How big are the small hunting teams?

• 8-12 individuals
• 15-20 individuals
• 30-40 individuals
• 2-5 individuals (correct)

Small hunting teams have 2 to 5 hyenas.

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