Untitled Document
 Hyenas
started living on Earth a long time ago. It is believed that they
originated about 26 million
years ago! Three hyena species are found in Africa. The spotted hyena
and striped hyena are found in
east Africa. The hyenas found in southern Africa are smaller in size
than the ones seen in the east.
Hyenas’ front legs are longer than the back legs. They have very
strong jaws. Their digestive system is very
powerful. Hyenas can eat and digest their prey with its skin, teeth,
horns, and bones!
 Interestingly,
hyenas can survive several days without water and can travel long
distances. Hyenas don’t really
have great hunting techniques. They hunt in packs and usually tire
their prey to exhaustion. They also scavenge
on dead animals in the wild.
Due to their tendency to scavenge on dead
animals, there are many negative associations with Hyenas.
They are often described as symbols of betrayal and stupidity in Middle Eastern
folklore and literature. In West African
folklore, hyena stands as a symbol of abnormal activities and bad
habits. |
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