Hyenas

Spotted hyena at Osnabrück Zoo

Image: Hamsterkiste

There are four species of hyena. Three have particularly powerful jaws: the spotted hyena, the striped hyena and the brown hyena. The smallest species is the aardwolf, which feeds mainly on termites. Aardwolves live in dry regions of eastern and southern Africa.


Spotted hyenas grow up to 180 cm long and 90 cm tall. They weigh 40 to 70 kg. They are grey-brown with dark brown or black spots. Their bodies are higher at the front than at the back, and they can run at speeds of up to 65 km/h. Spotted hyenas are found in the savannas of Africa south of the Sahara.


The brown hyena weighs around 40 kilograms. It can grow up to 136 centimetres long, with a tail measuring up to about 25 centimetres. Its coat has very few spots or stripes. Brown hyenas are found in southern Africa.


The striped hyena reaches a length of 100 to 115 cm, plus a tail 30 to 40 cm long. This species can weigh around 25 to 40 kilograms. Striped hyenas live in western and central Asia, India, and some northern regions of Africa. Spotted hyenas live and hunt in packs. They try to catch zebras, wildebeest and medium-sized antelopes, but will also feed on carrion. They mostly hunt at night. Their jaws are very powerful, enabling them to crush the bones of large prey. After a successful hunt, they often make their “hyena laugh” sound. Once a year, adult female hyenas give birth to 1–2 cubs. Young hyenas are nursed for about 18 months, but they also eat meat from the age of nine months. Hyenas can live for about 20 years.

Find out:

  1. Which species of hyena are there?
  2. How long and how heavy do spotted hyenas get?
  3. Where are hyenas found?
  4. Which animals do hyenas hunt?
  5. How long can hyenas live?