Because
of the giggling sound, when excited, also referred to as the laughing
hyena.
Forefeet
larger than hind feet.
Mainly
nocturnal, territorial and gregarious living in clans from 3 - 80 (Record)
Although social they go hunting or searching for food individually.
Females dominate
males.
Undigested
bones / hairs are vomited out and they roll in it, if they can beat the
rest of the clan members to it. While retching this causes the
attention of the rest of the clan hoping the also roll in it.
Two
types of scent glands are used:
INTERDIGITAL
- between the toes, which are deposited while walking & scratching in defecation
areas.
ANAL
GLANDS - which is wiped onto grass stalks while squatting.
When
attacked, by others, wild dogs or lions, it puts it's tail between the
legs and tries escaping in a awkward half-sitting position.
Communication
is very important and vocal sounds range from grunts, growls, whine, squeals,
roar, giggle and the famous whoo-ooop. Body language:
when the tail is up and curled it is ready to attack, slightly open mouth
and flat ears means it's ready to flee.
When
very hot they readily take to water to cool down. At times prey is hidden
in water as not to attract attention by the smell of the carcass.
They are intelligent enough not to practice this in Crocodile infested
water.
They
have and excellent knowledge of prey species and use this knowledge
to their advantage when
hunting. They can chase prey for up to 5 km . Hyena can run
and average of between 40-50km per
hour.
Hyenas
and vultures assist each other in finding food. Vultures looking and listening
for hyenas and the latter scanning the skies for vultures circling.
Hyenas
hunt and scavenge warthog
but will sha,
containing many entrances and tunnels, with the warthog, they seem to have
a "truce" during these shared times, but .... only in the den. (KZN
Wildlife)
