International Hyena Day – 27th April
International Hyena Day – 27th April
April 27th is International Hyena Day which advocates for changing the public’s perspective on hyenas, and seeing their importance on Earth.
Hyenas, or hyaenas, are feliform carnivoran mammals belonging to the family Hyaenidae. With just four extant species in 3 generas; spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea), aardwolf (Proteles cristata) and striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena).Itis the fifth-smallest family in the Carnivora and one of the smallest in the class Mammalia.
Hyenas have relatively short torsos and are fairly massive and wolf-like in build, but have lower hind quarters, high withers and their backs slope noticeably downward towards their rumps. The forelegs are high, while the hind legs are very short and their necks are thick and short. Their skulls superficially resemble those of large canids, but are much larger and heavier, with shorter facial portions. Like canids, hyenas have short, blunt, non-retractable claws. Males in most hyena species are larger than females, though the spotted hyena is exceptional, as it is the female of the species that outweighs and dominates the male. Also, unlike other hyenas, the female spotted hyena’s external genitalia closely resembles that of the male.
From four species of hyenas, three are predominantly hunter-scavengers that survive on a mix of opportunistic prey and carrion. The aardwolf, however, is unique in that it is an insectivorous hyena that survives primarily on insects.Spotted hyenas are famed scavengers and often dine on the leftovers of other predators.Hyenas are particularly efficient predators since they are capable of digesting bones, horns and even the teeth of their prey. Hyenas feature prominently in the folklore and mythology of human cultures that live alongside them. In some cultures, hyenas are thought to influence people’s spirits, rob graves, and steal livestock and children.
They consume animals of various types and sizes, carrion, bones, vegetable matter, and other animal droppings. Their jaws are among the strongest in relation to the size of any other mammal. Their jaws and digestive tract allow them to process and obtain nutrients from skin and bones.
– Source: Internet –