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Hyenas
Hyenas, or hyaenas (from Ancient Greek , ), are feliform carnivoran mammals of the family Hyaenidae . With only four extant species (each in its own genus), it is the fifth-smallest family in the Carnivora and one of the smallest in the class Mammalia. Despite their low diversity, hyenas are unique and vital components of most African ecosystems. Although phylogenetically closer to felines and viverrids, as part of suborder Feliformia, hyenas are behaviourally and morphologically similar to canids in several elements due to convergent evolution; both hyenas and canines are non-arboreal, cursorial hunters that catch prey with their teeth rather than claws. Both eat food quickly and may store it, and their calloused feet with large, blunt, nonretractable claws are adapted for running and making sharp turns. However, hyenas' grooming, scent marking, defecation habits, mating and parental behavior are consistent with the behavior of other feliforms. Hyenas feature prominentl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crocuta Crocuta
The spotted hyena (''Crocuta crocuta''), also known as the laughing hyena, is a hyena species, currently classed as the sole extant member of the genus ''Crocuta'', native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN on account of its widespread range and large numbers estimated between 27,000 and 47,000 individuals. The species is, however, experiencing declines outside of protected areas due to habitat loss and poaching. The species may have originated in Asia, and once ranged throughout Europe for at least one million years until the end of the Late Pleistocene. The spotted hyena is the largest known member of the Hyaenidae, and is further physically distinguished from other species by its vaguely bear-like build, its rounded ears, its less prominent mane, its spotted pelt, its more dual-purposed dentition, its fewer nipples and the presence of a pseudo-penis in the female. It is the only placental mammalian species where females lack an external v ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Parahyaena
The brown hyena (''Parahyaena brunnea''), also called strandwolf, is a species of hyena found in Namibia, Botswana, western and southern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and South Africa. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Parahyaena''. It is currently the rarest species of hyena.''Chapter 4: Rich Man's Table'' from David MacDonald’s ''The Velvet Claw'' BBC books, 1992 The largest remaining brown hyena population is located in the southern Kalahari Desert and coastal areas in Southwest Africa. The global population of brown hyena is estimated by IUCN at a number between 4,000 and 10,000 and its conservation status is marked as near threatened in the IUCN Red List. Description Brown hyenas are distinguished from other species by their long shaggy dark brown coat, pointed ears, and short tail. Their legs are striped brown and white, and adults have a distinct cream-colored fur ruff around their necks. Erectile hairs up to in length cover the neck and back and bristles d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Parahyaena Brunnea
The brown hyena (''Parahyaena brunnea''), also called strandwolf, is a species of hyena Hyenas, or hyaenas (from Ancient Greek , ), are feliform carnivoran mammals of the family Hyaenidae . With only four extant species (each in its own genus), it is the fifth-smallest family in the Carnivora and one of the smallest in the clas ... found in Namibia, Botswana, western and southern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and South Africa. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Parahyaena''. It is currently the rarest species of hyena.''Chapter 4: Rich Man's Table'' from David MacDonald’s ''The Velvet Claw'' BBC books, 1992 The largest remaining brown hyena population is located in the southern Kalahari Desert and coastal areas in Southwest Africa. The global population of brown hyena is estimated by IUCN at a number between 4,000 and 10,000 and its conservation status is marked as near threatened in the IUCN Red List. Description Brown hyenas are distinguished from other sp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chasmaporthetes
''Chasmaporthetes'', also known as hunting or running hyena, is an extinct genus of hyenas distributed in Eurasia, North America, and Africa during the Pliocene-Pleistocene epochs, living from 4.9 million to 780,000 years ago, existing for about . The genus probably arose from Eurasian Miocene hyenas such as ''Thalassictis'' or ''Lycyaena'', with ''C. borissiaki'' being the oldest known representative.Kurtén, Björn (1980) ''Pleistocene mammals of North America'', p. 199, Columbia University Press, 1980, The species ''C. ossifragus'' was the only hyena to cross the Bering land bridge into the Americas, and ranged over what is now Arizona and Mexico during Blancan and early Irvingtonian Land Mammal ages, between 5.0 and 1.5 million years ago.Macdonald, David (1992) ''The Velvet Claw: A Natural History of the Carnivores'', p. 119-144, New York: Parkwest, ''Chasmaporthetes'' was one of the so-called "dog-like" hyenas (of which the aardwolf is the only survivor), a hyaenid group wh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pachycrocuta
''Pachycrocuta'' is an extinct genus of prehistoric hyenas. The largest and most well-researched species is ''Pachycrocuta brevirostris'', colloquially known as the giant short-faced hyena as it stood about at the shoulder and it is estimated to have averaged in weight, approaching the size of a lioness, making it the largest known hyena. ''Pachycrocuta'' first appeared during the late Miocene (Messinian, 7.2 to 5.3 million years agoA. Hill, G. Curtis, and R. Drake. 1986. Sedimentary stratigraphy of the Tugen Hills, Baringo, Kenya. Geological Society of America Special Publication 25:285-295). By 800,000 years ago, it became locally extinct in Europe and became completely extinct during the middle Pleistocene, 400,000 years ago. Taxonomy The first identified fossil of the short-faced hyena was discovered in Le Puy, Auvergne, France, in 1845 by French paleontologist Auguste Aymard. In 1850, French paleontologist Paul Gervais made it the holotype specimen of a new species, '' Hyae ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crocuta
''Crocuta'' is a genus of hyena containing the largest living member of the family, the spotted hyena ''(Crocuta crocuta)''. Several fossil species are known as well. Taxonomy It is still unclear whether the genus evolved in Africa or Asia, although the oldest known fossils are from Africa and dated to about 3.8 mya. The Eurasian "cave hyenas" (''Crocuta spelaea'', ''Crocuta ultima'' and others) have been classified as distinct species, but are nowadays more commonly considered prehistoric subspecies of the spotted hyena. Two extinct species are known to have coexisted with each other in eastern Africa during the Pliocene; '' Crocuta eturono'' and '' Crocuta dietrichi'', each one probably occupying a different niche in regards to scavenging/hunting preference. In China there was a Pliocene species, '' Crocuta honanensis'', while another species from the same period in India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Proteles
''Proteles'' is a genus of distinctive hyenas which contain the aardwolf ''(Proteles cristatus)'' and its close fossil relatives. It is the only genus of the subfamily Protelinae. While the oldest fossils definitely belonging to ''Proteles'' date back to the Pliocene, material from the Miocene dating to around 10 million years ago has been suggested to belong to the genus, which would significantly increase its temporal range. It has been suggested that the Protelinae subfamily is actually an offshoot of the "running hyenas" (such as ''Lycyaena ''Lycyaena'' is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivore in the family Hyaenidae. ''Lycyaena'' was a cursorial hunting hyaena as opposed to full-time scavenger. It has been suggested by R. F. EwerR. F. Ewer, ''The Carnivores'' (1973) that ''Lyc ...'') who adapted to an insectivorous diet due to increased competition from canines and felines. References Mammal genera Mammal genera with one living species Hyenas Taxa named by I ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ictitherium
''Ictitherium'' is an extinct genus belonging to the family (biology), family Hyaenidae and the subfamily Ictitheriinae erected by Trouessart in 1897. ''Ictitherium'' species were endemic to Eurasia and Africa during the Middle Miocene through the Early Pliocene (12.7—5.3 Annum, mya) and existed approximately . ''Ictitherium'' were around long, and looked more like civets than modern hyenas, possessing a long body with short legs and a possibly short tail. It is speculated that ''I. viverrinum'' ate plants as well as medium-small mammals and birds. ''Ictitherium'' was a very successful and abundant genus, with multiple fossils often being found at a single site. Possibly, this early hyena genus lived in packs and had a social order, much like its modern descendants. References Prehistoric hyenas Miocene carnivorans Pliocene carnivorans Zanclean extinctions Miocene mammals of Africa Pliocene mammals of Africa Miocene mammals of Asia Pliocene mammals of Asia Miocene m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Proteles Cristata
The aardwolf (''Proteles cristata'') is an insectivorous species of hyena, native to East and Southern Africa. Its name means "earth-wolf" in Afrikaans and Dutch. It is also called maanhaar-jackal (Afrikaans for " mane-jackal"), termite-eating hyena and civet hyena, based on its habit of secreting substances from its anal gland, a characteristic shared with the African civet. Unlike many of its relatives in the order Carnivora, the aardwolf does not hunt large animals. It eats insects and their larvae, mainly termites; one aardwolf can lap up as many as 250,000 termites during a single night using its long, sticky tongue. The aardwolf's tongue has adapted to be tough enough to withstand the strong bite of termites. The aardwolf lives in the shrublands of eastern and southern Africa – open lands covered with stunted trees and shrubs. It is nocturnal, resting in burrows during the day and emerging at night to seek food. Taxonomy The aardwolf is generally classified with the hy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pliocrocuta
''Pliocrocuta'' is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivore in the family Hyaenidae. See also * ''Pachycrocuta ''Pachycrocuta'' is an extinct genus of prehistoric hyenas. The largest and most well-researched species is ''Pachycrocuta brevirostris'', colloquially known as the giant short-faced hyena as it stood about at the shoulder and it is estimated to ...'' References Miocene feliforms Miocene genus extinctions Miocene mammals of Europe Prehistoric carnivoran genera Prehistoric hyenas {{paleo-carnivora-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Plioviverrops
''Plioviverrops'' is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivore of the family Hyaenidae, endemic to Southern Europe during the Late Miocene The Late Miocene (also known as Upper Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), Epoch made up of two faunal stage, stages. The Tortonian and Messinian stages comprise the Late Miocene sub-epoch, which lasted from 11.63 Ma (million ye ... subepoch (11.6—5.3 mya) existing for approximately . It was named by Kretzoi in 1938, and assigned to Hyaenidae by Flynn in 1998.J. J. Flynn. 1998. Early Cenozoic Carnivora ("Miacoidea"). In C. M. Janis, K. M. Scott, and L. L. Jacobs (eds.), Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America Resources Prehistoric hyenas Miocene carnivorans Messinian extinctions Cenozoic mammals of Europe Cenozoic mammals of Africa Prehistoric carnivoran genera Tortonian extinctions {{paleo-carnivora-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lycyaena
''Lycyaena'' is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivore in the family Hyaenidae. ''Lycyaena'' was a cursorial hunting hyaena as opposed to full-time scavenger. It has been suggested by R. F. EwerR. F. Ewer, ''The Carnivores'' (1973) that ''Lycyaena'' may be a possible ancestor to today's aardwolf The aardwolf (''Proteles cristata'') is an insectivorous species of hyena, native to East and Southern Africa. Its name means "earth-wolf" in Afrikaans and Dutch. It is also called maanhaar-jackal (Afrikaans for " mane-jackal"), termite-eatin ... (''Proteles cristatus''). References Miocene feliforms Prehistoric mammals of Europe Prehistoric carnivoran genera Prehistoric hyenas {{paleo-carnivora-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
_(proteles_cristatus).jpg "Click for more on -> Proteles Cristata")
