The Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is a viverrid mammal.
The Striped Hyena has brown-grey coarse long fur, shorter in summer, with four dark vertical stripes and rows of spots along its sides. It has a mane of hair running along its back. It has a strong body with short legs. Its hind legs (back legs) are shorter than its fore legs (front legs), which makes its back slope downwards.
It has a large head with small dark eyes and a dark grey-brown nose. It has large black pointed ears. It has a short black-tipped tail. It has extremely strong jaws.
It grows to 85-130 centimetres (33-51 inches) in length. Its tail measures 25-40 centimetres (10-16 inches) long.
The Striped Hyena is native to North Africa, East Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, India, and the Caucasus.
It is a nocturnal scavenger, feeding at night on the carrion (meat) of dead animals. Its jaws are so strong that it can crush bones.
It is monogamous, forming a mating pair for life. The male helps the female dig a den in the soil, raise their young, and feed them. The female has 3-4 live young, called cubs. The cubs are born with their eyes closed. Their eyes open after 7-8 days.
The Striped Hyena can live for about 12 years.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM