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STRIPED HYAENA = Hyaena
hyaena Order
=
Carnivora Family =
Hyaenidae Length
of body =
120 cm Length of tail =
25 cm Shoulder height =
80 cm Weight =
45 kg The
hyaena is a carnivore which belongs to a family of its own. It resembles the
dog in many aspects, yet it is characterised by its large head, large ears
and very powerful jaws. Its powerful teeth are capable of crushing the bones
of large antelopes and even buffaloes. At the same time, its stomach secretes
a digestive fluid which helps in breaking down the bones to digest them more
easily. Other differences from dogs
are that a hyaena's hind legs are lower than the front ones, which means its
shoulders are raised and give it an upright appearance. In general it has a
very ungraceful appearance and unpleasant smell. In Jordan, the hyaena is
found in the rocky mountainous regions overlooking the Jordan Valley,
particularly where natural caves are numerous. Sometimes the hyaena is seen
at the edge of the desert but it never wanders far into its interior. The main diet of the hyaenas
consists of hares, rodents such as the jerboa and gerbil, birds and lizards.
They also eat the dead bodies of animals including the bones, and in so doing
perform a useful function to Man as they leave nothing behind. They are known
as the scavengers of feasts that other animals have enjoyed. Hyaenas are shy, nervous
creatures but when starving, may raid remote villages, trying to prey on
sheep and goats. They make very strange noises
which vary from cries, cackles, barks and an ugly laugh. They have been
disliked by Man through the ages. There are two other species of hyaena but
they are not found in Jordan. The female gives birth once a year and has a
litter of three to four offspring. The number of hyaenas has
decreased very much in Jordan and at present they are an endangered species. |