Hyena

= ﻿ ﻿The Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) = The Hyena's from Lion King were Spotted Hyena's you can tell by the obvious spots on their backs. = Habitat = The spotted hyena habitat is located in the sub-saharan part of Africa
 * ===Domain :=== || ===Eukarya=== ||
 * ===Kingdom:=== || ===Anamilia=== ||
 * ===Phylum:=== || ===Chordata=== ||
 * ===Class:=== || ===Mammalia=== ||
 * ===Order:=== || ===Carnivora=== ||
 * ===Family:=== || ===Hyaenidae=== ||
 * ===Genus:=== || ===Crocuta=== ||
 * ===Species:=== || ===C. crocuta=== ||

In the sub-Saharan part of Africa the spotted hyena's habitat consists of savanna, woodlands and semi-dessert.  A savanna is a rolling grassland scattered with shrubs and isolated trees, which can be found between a tropical rainforest and desert biome. Not enough rain falls on a savanna to support forests. Savannas are also known as tropical grasslands. They are found in on either side of the equator. T he Savanna has a wet/dry climate meaning it has a dry season and a wet season. It's wet season is during the summer t he savanna climate has a temperature range of 68° to 86° F (20° - 30° C). In the winter, temperature gets 68° to 78° F (20° - 25° C). In the summer the temperature ranges from 78° to 86° F (25° - 30° C). Savanna temperatures do not change much and when it does its only by a little bit and it declines and increases gradually. = Physiology =

The Spotted Hyena is a dog like carnivor with a medium size. Their skulls are massive with prominent sagittal crests for attachment of their powerful jaw muscles, within their mouth they are equipped with 32-34 strong and sturdy teeth used for killing the many different types of animals they eat. If the spots arent enough to let you know you are looking at a spotted hyena then it is important to know that all spotted hyenas have round ears and not pointed ears like the other two species of hyena.

= Species Interactions = Hyena's when hunting work together effectively to isolate a herd animal mostly one that is sick or slow they often fight in species competition over the food once its dead, either with eachother or with other powerful animals like lions. Spotted hyenas hunt and live together in large groups called clans the clans have about 80 individuals and are led by females. The female spotted hyena is larger and more aggressive than the male hyena and the masculine characteristics offer advantages in competing for food and protecting cubs. Hyenas appear similar to dogs however they are actually more closely related to big cats like lions and tigers.

= **Reproduction ** = = **﻿ **  =

= Works Cited = - Michaels, Patricia A. "Hyena Facts." Green Nature. Web. 30 Mar. 2011. []. - "Hyena Home." //Biology@Davidson// Web. 30 Mar. 2011. []>. - "Savanna Biomes." // Blue Planet Biomes //. Web. 07 Apr.2011. []. - Estes, Richard. "The Behavior Guide to African ..." //Google Books//. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. [] - "Spotted Hyenas, Spotted Hyena Pictures, Spotted Hyena Facts - National Geographic." //Animals, Animal Pictures, Wild Animal Facts - National Geographic//. Web. 27 Apr. 2011. .