Submitted by : Syed Mazhar Hussain ShahReg.No. 2008-ag-2819Section A

SUBMITTED TO: DR.KHURRAM ASHFAQ

INTRODUCTION

• Kingdom: Animalia

phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammaliaorder : Carnivora

Genus: Hyaena

Species: Percrocutida

Physical parameters

• Temperature 98.6-100.6F

• Pulse rate 60-100/MIN

• Respiration rate 12-24/MIN

Worldwide distribution

• Spotted Hyenas live in Africa south of the Sahara except in densely forested areas and at the southern tip of the continent. They prefer open grasslands and savannas.

Nutrition • Spotted hyenas will eat almost anything; they

are efficient scavengers of carrion and fresh meat. They often follow migrating herds of large herbivores, feeding on carcasses if they are available, and on new-born babies.

• When necessary, they hunt in packs, killing animals as large as zebras. Extremely strong jaws and teeth allow them to crack large bones. Bones and bone marrow form a considerable part of their diet.

Reproduction and growth• During courtship and mating periods they

gather in large packs which are quite noisy. One or two young (rarely three) are born after a 110 day gestation, in an underground burrow.

• Babies are born with their eyes open and with canine and incisor teeth already cut. Nursing mothers often raise their young in communal nurseries. The young nurse for about 18 months, and are sexually mature at two or three years of age. Spotted hyenas have lived as long as 40 years in captivity, and 25 years in the wild.

Salient features• Spotted Hyenas (also called Laughing Hyenas)

are the largest of the hyenas. They have robust bodies with large heads, powerful jaws, and rounded ears. Their necks are maned, and their backs slope downwards to smaller hind quarters. One hundred eighty pounds is their maximum weight. Females are larger than males.

• The colors of their coats vary but are usually brown, yellow or gray, with numerous dark spots. Sometimes the muzzle and hind legs are black and the foot-long tail has a black tuft.

STATUS IN PAKISTAN• Stripped hyena is the major specie of hyena found in Pakistan.

Hyena in Pakistan is known in local dialect as Charag, Lhagar Bhagar ( Urdu). It is a carnivorous animal. The length of this stripped hyena found in Pakistan is about one meter. The shoulder height of the animal is 65 to 80 cm. The weight of this hyena is about 25 to 45 kg.

The hyena of Pakistan or Charag have ears pointed and long hairs. On its head, stripped hyena has black stripes. These animals also have their torsos, black muzzles and legs marked with characteristic black stripes. They are grayish brown in color. These animals can raise their long hairs on their mane and can look about 38 percent bigger than their original size. They do this when they feel that they are threatened. There is no difference in the average length and height between the females and the males. The male hyena is heavier than the female.

REFERANCE

•  The Mean Hyena: A Folktale from Malawi by Judy Sierra

•  Kalahari Hyenas : Comparative Behavioral Ecology of Two Species by M. G. L. MillS