Hyenas are curious mammalian animals that appear to be related to canids, but are actually grouped with felines, so that we find a type of animal with characteristics of both groups, which certainly makes it very interesting. This peculiarity influences the way they hunt and feed, so in this article on our site we want to tell you about what hyenas eatWe invite you to continue reading.
Type of hyena feeding
From the taxonomic point of view, hyenas are grouped within the order of carnivorous animals, which is usually done according to the type of diet based on the consumption of meat and the animal's dentition, adapted to tear prey; however, there are certain exceptions in these aspects and within the Hyaenidae family, where hyenas are located, we find an example.
In this sense, hyenas are characterized by strong and massive jaws, with large premolars and molars, capable of crushing bones and eating a carnivorous diet. However, the anteater or termite-eating hyena of the genus Proteles (Proteles cristata), although with sharp and large canines, has the rest of the teeth quite reduced because does not consume large prey that requires tearing or shredding.
Discover some examples of Animals that are prey in the following article on our site.
What do hyenas eat?
The idea that hyenas are fundamentally scavengers has become popular, but this is not entirely true since, although some manage to consume a significant amount of carrion without any problem, others are capable animals to chase, attack and kill prey and then consume it.
In this way, their diet can also be based on live prey that they hunt. In either case, they use their keen senses of smell and sight to find food.
Hyenas are opportunistic and generalist animals, that is, they adapt their diet according to the prey available in their habitat. However, depending on the species, we can indicate some prey or particular foods in each case.
Brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea)
This species is more of a scavenger, and relies on its sense of smell to locate the remains of dead animals, left by other carnivores to devour them. When he has an opportunity to hunt an animal in close range, he can do so. Among the foods that the brown hyena includes we have:
- Gazelles.
- Zebras.
- Hares.
- Jackals.
- South African Fur Seals.
- Birds.
- Reptiles.
- Crustaceans.
- Fishes.
- Eggs.
- Feces of other animals.
- Fruit with high water content in dry season.
Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)
It is also primarily a scavenger, including various human wastes, as hyenas and humans over time have increasingly overlapping their ranges distribution. Among the foods they eat are:
- Zebras
- Ñus
- Gazelles
- Impalas
- Insects
- Hares
- Rodents
- Reptiles
- Birds
Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
This species' diet consists of around 70% of live prey that it hunts, a significant difference from the previous ones. Depending on the size of the prey, groups that vary in number are established for the hunt. Among the animals it consumes are:
- Zebras
- Ñus
- Gazelles
- Antelopes
- Cape Buffalo
- Impalas
- Boars
- Hares
- Ostriches
- Jackals
- Porcupine
- Snakes
- Domestic animals
- Lions
- Other hyenas
- Eggs
Garden Wolf (Proteles cristata)
This type of hyena is the exception of the group, as it is really an insectivore exclusively that feeds on termites from the groups Trinervitermes and Hodotermes. Although these animals have chemical defenses, the termite hyena does not feel repulsed by this and consumes them without any problem.
Don't hesitate to consult the following post on How do hyenas hunt? for more information on the subject.
Do hyenas eat lions?
Hyenas and lions have a close ecological relationship, since the first hyenas in certain regions tend to prowl the first to take advantage of the remains of animals that these big cats can leave behind; because lions hunt larger prey.
Although adult lions are stronger and larger than hyenas, hyenas if they are in a group they could attack a lion that is alone and not large, as in the case of females or young individuals. Also, a sick or injured lion could hardly defend itself against a pack of hyenas.
In this sense, let us remember that hyenas are carnivorous and scavengers, so if they have the opportunity to eat a lion, they will not hesitate to do so.
Do hyenas attack humans?
Faced with such generalist animals in their diet, surely the doubt arises if hyenas eat humans and, although they do not do so frequently, hyenas can attack to people However, hyena attacks on humans do not occur repeatedly, but throughout history they have occurred, especially since the population increase of people, which somehow led to an invasion of the natural habitat of these animals.
Additionally, if these animals run into a human corpse they will also eat it, since for them they are leftovers or food, like any other guy; even some African groups tend to leave their carcasses in areas where hyenas live so that they can feed on them.
How much do hyenas eat?
It is somewhat difficult to know exactly how many kilos of meat or carrion a hyena can eat, however, it is known that as far as possible they try to feed daily, so they are able to eat several kilos of food a dayIf these animals have enough food and are satisfied, they hide the rest and consume it the next day. One fact that has been specified is that the termite-eating hyena can consume some 300,000 insects per night
