Spotted hyaena Crocuta crocuta (Erxleben, 1777)
Photo: Quinette Kruger
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Hyaenidae
Genus: Crocuta
Species: crocuta
The spotting on the body of spotted hyaena clearly distinguishes it from the brown hyaena (Parahyaena brunnea). Compared to the pointed ears of the brown hyaena, the spotted hyaena has rounded ears.
The spotted hyaena is a hunter-scavenger, although it is regarded by many as a prime scavenger. Their diet includes predominantly large or medium-sized ungulates such as impala (Aepyceros melampus), wildebeest (Connochaetus taurinus), and zebra (Equus burchelli), although they hunt and scavenge a wide range of other food items.
Literature
Skinner, J.D. and Smithers, R.H.N., 1990. The Mammals of the Southern African subregion. University of Pretoria, South Africa.