Striped Hyena
Hyaena hyaena
| Scientific name | Hyaena hyaena |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | Near Threatened |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Hyaenidae |
| Size | Shoulder height about 60-80 cm; weight about 25-45 kg |
How to identify
Shaggy grey hyena with black vertical stripes on the body and legs, a long erectile mane along the back, and large pointed ears.
Habitat
Arid and semi-arid bush, scrub, rocky hills, and open woodland
Diet
Chiefly a scavenger of carrion and bones, also eating fruit, insects, and small animals
When it is active
Strictly nocturnal and solitary, sheltering in dens or rocky crevices by day
Where it lives
From North and East Africa across the Middle East to South Asia; in East Africa it occurs in Kenya, Tanzania, and the Horn of Africa
How to spot it
Very hard to see; search at night by spotlight in arid bush of Samburu, Tsavo, or Laikipia, or check dens at rocky sites at dusk
Photography tips
A night subject: use a spotlight or high ISO; try to capture the raised mane in profile against a dark background
Threats
Persecution, poisoning, road kills, and habitat loss have reduced numbers, leaving it Near Threatened
Similar species
Spotted Hyena is larger, spotted rather than striped, and lives in clans; the Striped Hyena is smaller, striped, maned, and solitary.
