Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Spotted Hyena

 

Although it may look like a dog, the Spotted Hyena is more closely related to cats, civets, and genets. Also called the Laughing Hyena, the Spotted Hyena is a strong, capable hunter. It is the largest member of the hyena family (other members are the striped hyena, brown hyena, and aardwolf).




The spotted hyena may look unusual, at first sight. It has a large head with a long, thick, muscular neck and powerful jaws that give the hyena the strongest bite of any mammal.


Its front legs are longer than its back legs, giving the hyena a profile somewhat like that of a wildebeest or bison. The spotted hyena's paws have four toes with non-retractable claws. The short, coarse fur has a yellow or gray tint covered in spots, which differ among individuals. A short mane of hair along its back stands upright. Its only true predators are lions and humans.

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