hyena

The coyote's scientific name — meaning "coyote" in Afrikaans and Dutch — is Proteles cristata . Proteles is a portmanteau of two ancient Greek words, teleos and protos, roughly translated as "full" and "before or first," respectively. Combined, they mean "completely in front," referring to the coyote's five-toed front feet.

Cristata is derived from the Latin "cristatus", meaning "with a comb", referring to the mane of an animal.

Other names for coyotes include "maanhaar-jackal," "any hyena," "termite-eating hyena," and "civet-hyena." The Nama people use "|gīb" to mark animals.

Hyaena brunnea is the scientific name for the brown hyena. Hyaena is derived from the ancient Greek word "hyaina", derived from "hys", meaning pig or swine. Hyenas became hyenas in Roman pens, and hyenas became hyenas when Middle English became the dominant language.

Brunnea comes from the Latin word "brunneus", which means "brown".

Brown hyenas are also known as strandwolves.

The spotted hyena's scientific name is Crocuta crocuta . For decades, people thought that "crocuta" came from the Latin word "crocutus," meaning "saffron-colored," but they were wrong. The spotted hyena's taxonomic label comes from the ancient Greek word "κροκόττας", meaning "golden jackal".

Colloquially, the spotted hyena is also known as the laughing hyena.

These animals belong to the carnivorous suborder Feliformia (sometimes called Feloidea), which includes carnivorous mammals with "cat-like" physical and behavioral characteristics. Currently, four of these animals forage across large swaths of Africa, the Middle East and Eurasia.

In general, hyenas are quadrupeds with spotty fur and large ears. Interestingly, they have both feline and canine features, and both sport manes. They also have downward-sloping spines, long front legs, and short rear legs. Learn about the ugliest animals on Earth here.

Coyotes, brown hyenas, and striped hyenas all have lined coats. Spotted hyenas, as their name suggests, have spotted fur. Like dogs, their short claws are non-retractable, but they have more ribs than canines and have tongues that are rough like felines.

Males in the hyena, hyena, and spotted hyena species are generally larger than females. However, in the spotted breed community, the females are larger. They dominate the males and even have external genitalia.

Like house cats, these animals are avid groomers and also mark territory, but they use anal glands instead of urinating. They are primarily a nocturnal species, although spotted hyenas occasionally venture out during the day, especially if humans are not wandering around.

Striped breeds usually live alone or in pairs, but some populations can have as many as seven. Spotted hyenas are an exception. They are particularly sociable and live in highly organized communities of up to 80 people. Matriarchy and Monarchy In essence, the female of the species is dominant. Plus, when the Clan Leader dies, her oldest daughter automatically takes over!

They mostly burrow under holes and crevices. Hyenas also dig dens.

These animals vocalize loudly and frequently. However, not all species laugh as is commonly believed. In fact, the spotted hyena is the only extant species known for its grin. Remarkably, they use about a dozen different grunts, laughs, and barks to communicate food and migration effectively with their clan members.

These animals live in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia. Coyotes roam southern and eastern Africa, while brown hyenas live in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, with some influx into Angola, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The range of the spotted breed is central, western and southern Africa, but very few people live in South Africa. Striped hyenas are found across large swaths of North Africa, the Middle East and India.

Coyotes live in scrubland and heavily grazed dry plains, where termites are an important part of their diet, and are plentiful there. Typically, coyotes stay in the same place for about six weeks and group their dens together.

Deserts and coastal areas are where you'll find brown varieties, while spotted populations prefer woodlands, savannahs, semi-deserts and hilly forests below 4,000 meters. Hyenas prefer dry woodlands, savannahs, and dense grasslands in mountains. Typically, they nest in rocky outcrops, ravines and crevices.

These animals are primarily scavengers, but they also kill their prey. As carnivores, they eat mostly meat, but have been known to supplement their diet with fruit in times of trouble. They are also members of the "clean plate club," which means they eat every bit of their prey, including bones and hooves. Plus, they're not particularly picky about what type of meat they eat.

The digestive system of these animals is made of steel! So much so that field scientists and anthropologists often report feeding on inanimate objects like tires and tent material.

In one night, a single coyote can eat over 250,000 insects. Aware of their constant need for food, coyotes never eat a whole colony of termites. Instead, they kept the mounds partially intact and used them as a source of replenishment.

The coyote's diet differs from other hyena species because it does not include any carrion, the meat of animals that have been killed. Instead, coyotes stick to insects and larvae.

Arguably the most aggressive species of the hyena family, the spotted hyena differs from their cousins in that they primarily hunt prey rather than sticking to carrion. In addition to the mainly carnivorous West African spotted population, this species preys on large, hoofed, plant-eating animals including, but not limited to, wildebeest, giraffe, gazelle, impala, eland, sheep, goat, and cattle .They are also known for catching fish and, in rare cases, people!

These animals have big appetites. One person can eat up to 32 pounds of meat in one sitting!

Lions are the main enemies of these animals, although the former usually do not eat the latter. But lions see them as top predators of their kind and will kill them to reduce competition. Likewise, in the Middle East, hyenas compete with wolves for food. But sometimes, the two animals cooperate and travel together.

Leopards also prey on these animals in some areas.

The current wild populations of coyotes and spotted hyenas are stable and not facing extinction, according to conservationists. Striped and brown breeds are not so lucky, as humans increasingly encroach on their natural habitat and kill them at alarming rates using traps, poisons and wire snares.

These animals usually live around 12 years, but can live up to 25 years. However, brown hyenas generally have a shorter lifespan.

The oldest specimen ever recorded was a male spotted hyena named Mars, who lived at the Honolulu Zoo with his brother Whoops. Both arrived in 1992, and both have had unusually long lives. Mars broke the record with 28.5 years, ouch 26!

about the author

My name is Rebecca and I have been a professional freelancer for nearly ten years. I write SEO content and graphic design. When I'm not working, I'm obsessed with cats and pet mice.