Hyena Info!!!
Hyenas have the strongest jaws of African predators, they can apply five tonnes of pressure per square inch. They can crush bones, and digest things like horns and hooves.
Male and females share identical genitalia, they are almost indistinguishable from one another. Females contain high amounts of testosterone in their blood, and their unborn cubs are practically swimming in it. This need for extra testosterone is unknown, but the males are known to take their own offspring, so being bigger than the males has it's benefits! The female urinates and gives birth through this pseudopenis (known as the clitoris). The pseudoscrotom is nothing but tissue.
Spotted hyenas are gregarious, meaning they are social. They can live in clans that can number a few individuals to very large populated groups. Each clan is led by a matriarch, usually the mother, sister, or grandmother of the other members. Her cubs will have superiority over the other members and their cubs. If the matriarch is killed or displaced, her cubs are also lowered in the system.
Hyenas have a protrusible organ in their anus, which secretes what is known as "hyena butter". This is used to distinguish territorial boundaries. It is sticky and quite smelly, and is applied to tall grasses. This secretion warns intruders that they are in enemy territory and that they had better turn around!!!
Striped and brown hyenas are solitary, only coming together to breed. The brown hyena is very rare. Both species have longer fur and are more slightly built than the spotted hyena.
Some African cultures view the hyena like we view a black cat. They are bad luck. Which is understandable...hyenas are often seen raiding graves and carrying back human remains to their dens. They can take livestock, which is easy for most predators.
Cubs are born jet black and start fading at about three months. Male cubs are kicked out of the clan at about 2-3 years of age. The females stay in their natal clans.
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