Hyena Mini Workbook, Donnette Davis, St Aiden's Homeschool

The Hyena Fact File

Wandering in packs called clans, hyenas are not afraid of taking on animals much larger than themselves! Their aggressive nature and well-coordinated teamwork are so forceful that they can even drive away hungry lions. Although the spotted hyena is the most familiar to us, there are two other hyena species - the striped and the brown hyenas. Why is the spotted hyena so famous? Well, the spotted hyena is a very vocal animal. When a spotted hyena wants to show its respect to a more senior clan member, it makes a sound that resembles our laughter. Because its "laughs" are so noticeable, we often nickname the animal the laughing hyena. While both the spotted and the brown hyenas live in African savannahs, the striped hyena has lives in Africa, the Middle East, and India. The Hyena weighs approx 50 kilograms, is stocky and has extremely powerful jaws, especially in relation to its size. Hyenas are found spread over the African Savannah south of the Sahara Desert. They have many amazing traits, one of them being the laughing type sounds they make. They laugh this sound when they are defending their territory. Hyenas are curious animals, and have many myths. One such long standing myth is Hyenas were scavengers. This is incorrect; they can in fact bring down prey as large as a Zebra. They hunt their own food, but they will also feed on carrion. They live in dens or dips in the ground with shelter. They are pack animals, and hunt in packs during the night. They choose their prey and will chase it until it is exhausted. Once it is exhausted the pack of Hyenas will attack the animal and feed.

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The Hyena Fact File Spotted Hyenas and, to a lesser extent, Striped and Brown Hyenas, have powerful carnassials teeth adapted for cutting flesh and premolars for crushing bone. Spotted hyenas have a strong bite proportional to their size, but the view that they have the strongest bite is a myth; and a number of other animals (including the Tasmanian devil) are proportionately stronger.

All species have a distinctly bear-like gait due to their front legs being longer than their back legs. The Aardwolf, Striped Hyena and Brown Hyena have striped pelts and manes lining the top of their necks which erect when frightened. The Spotted Hyena's fur is considerably shorter and spotted rather than striped. Unlike other species, its mane is reversed forwards.

Hyenas, in particular the spotted hyena, are highly intelligent animals with some studies suggesting convergent evolution in hyena and primate intelligence. Spotted hyena pakcs or “societies” are more complex than those of other carnivorous mammals and have been reported to be very similar to those cercopithecine primates in respect to group size, structure, competition and cooperation. One indication of hyena intelligence is that they will move their killed prey closer together to protect them from scavengers. Another indication is their very precise hunting methods. www.staidenshomeschool.com (c) 2009

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The Hyena Fact File

Did you Know……….. • The spotted female hyena is larger than the spotted male hyena • Hyenas have powerful teeth for crushing bone. • Hyenas are mammals. This means they are warm-blooded and give birth to live young. • Hyenas are carnivores. This means they eat meat. • Hyenas have been around for 26 million years. • Except for the aardwolf, all living hyena species are hunters and scavengers • The Bouda is a mythical tribe reputed to be able to transform into hyenas. • Hyenas (usually "Laughing Hyenas") have been used in animated movies many times. Examples include Shenzi, Banzai and Ed from the Disney animated film The Lion King, one ball-playing individual in Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and the Joker's pets, Bud and Lou.

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The Hyena Fact File

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The Hyena Fact File

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The Hyena Fact File

Print on Cardstock and laminate for protection. Cut the square puzzle pieces out and put together to match the picture ☺

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The Hyena Fact File

SOURCES: www.africanfauna.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyena Please email your comments and suggestions to [email protected] Other Volumes In Our Series Of Workbooks AFRICA ALPHABET, VOWELS & CONSONANTS ANIMALS COLOURS, SHAPES, PUZZLES DOLCH WORDS NUMBERS PHONICS WORD FAMILIES © All rights reserved. Digital duplication, electronic transmission or posting of the contents contained, printing, photocopying, and/or distribution of copies of content is prohibited with the exception of the purchaser reproducing as many copies as necessary for use by their own family or single classroom. Altering, amending, or reproducing portions of this document or the contents contained herein, in any other than the original format is prohibited. Every caution has been taken to ensure that the information contained herein is accurate. However by the use of this product the user absolves Donnette E Davis and/or St Aiden’s Homeschool and/or her/its duly authorized representative/s from any liability or obligation arising out of the use hereof whatsoever. Any changes to these terms and conditions must be made in writing and agreed to by all parties involved. A variety of clipart resources have been used, most notably Microsoft Clipart Collections, Wikipedia, Public Domain images and my own personal collection of PD images purchased and collected over the years. Copyright free images were also sourced through Google. Some of the resources I have obtained via websites over the years and do not have details of the origins thereof. Should you come across any of the artwork in this document that has not been credited appropriately, and know of the origins, kindly let me know in order that I may post the relevant credits and thanks. No copyright infringement is intended in any manner whatsoever. Donnette E Davis © 2009 St Aiden’s Homeschool, Republic of South Africa Date of first publication: December 2008 P O Box 13720 Cascades 3202 KwaZulu-Natal Republic of South Africa www.staidenshomeschool.com

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