 |
Hyena
By:
GW |
Fun facts | Hyena
Poem | Scientific classification | References
Kingdom: Animalia
Characteristics that place it here:
- The hyena is multicellular
- It is a heterotroph, which means it relies directly or indirectly on other
organisms for nourishment
- Lack rigid cell wall
Phylum: Chordata
Characteristics that place it here:
- Contains a notochord
- It's bilaterally symmetrical
- It has a complete digestive system
- Contains a bony endoskeleton
Class: Mammalia
Characteristics that place it here:
- Has three middle ear bones; The malleus, the incus, and the stapes
- The lower jaw is a single bone
- The hyena has hair called fur or pelage
- It feeds its young with milk produced by modified sweet glands called
mammary glands
Order: Carnivora
Characteristics that place it here:
- Has a pair of teeth called the carnassial pair, which id efficient for
cutting meat and tendon
- Is a medium sized animal with a relatively large brain
- Has a simple stomach
Family: Hyaenidae
Characteristics that place it here:
- Massive jaws
- Blunt non-retractible claws
- Skilled hunters
Genius and Species: Hyaena and Hyaena hyaena
Characteristics that place it here:
- Spotted or striped fur
- medium to large in size
Poem
Always
running running running
Laughing
on telling their tales cunning
their
tales of glory, fame, and fortune
Always
running running running
Laughing
on telling their tales of cunning
Fun
Facts
- Hyenas live in territorial social groups called
clans. Clans are dominated by females and can reach up to 70 members.
- The spotted hyena is the largest species of
hyena. The other species are the brown hyena and the striped hyena.
- Female hyenas possess similar looking
reproductive organs to males therefore accurate sexing can be difficult.
- The hyena is more closely related to the
mongoose and cat than the dog.
- The hyena is primarily a hunter, not a
scavenger. They usually hunt alone however clans will hunt together in order
to catch larger prey. They are also good opportunistic hunters.
References:
Yahoo; April 25, 2002
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/
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