Check out the most interesting brown hyena facts. The brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea) lives in southern Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, and Mozambique, and Botswana. The home range of hyenas is estimated at 233 to 466 km2. It is also called strandwolf.
Brown Hyena Facts
The hyena makes home in a variety of habitats such as open woodlands, savannas, semi-deserts, desert habitats. They also make habitats in rocky mountainous areas.
They have long coat and short tail. The average body length measures about 130–160 cm (51–63 in). They have a shoulder height of 70–80 cm (28–31 in). The length of a tail is 25–35 cm (9.8–13.8 in).
Male hyenas average 40.2–43.7 kg (89–96 lb) in weight while females weigh 37.7–40.2 kg (83–89 lb).
Like other hyenas, brown hyenas also feed on dead animals (carcasses). The hyena’s diet includes springbok, bat-eared fox, cape fur seal, springhare, and korhaan.
They are pretty aggressive. Hyenas can take the prey from other potential predators such as leopards, cheetahs, and jackals.
Brown hyenas have very powerful jaws for they can chew even the hardest of the bones. They have larger skulls as compared to other hyenas.
They usually live alone. Brown hyenas travel as much as 35 kilometers each night. Hyenas can detect their prey many a miles away.
They live in clans consisting of 4 – 7 individuals. Brown hyenas are territorial species.
Female gives birth to 1 – 2 cubs. They are born blind and weigh up to 1 kg.
The average lifespan of brown hyenas is about 12 – 15 years in the natural habitat.
The global population is estimated at 10,000 worldwide. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed brown hyenas as Near-Threatened.
