B r o w n H y e n a
| Class: Mammalia: Mammals | Diet: Carrion |
| Order: Carnivora: Carnivores | |
| Size: body: 11.1 - 1.2 m (3 1/2 - 4 ft), tail: 25 - 30 cm (9 3/4 - 11 3/4 in) | |
| Family: Hyaenidae: Hyenas | Conservation Status: Vulnerable |
| Scientific Name: Hyaena brunnea | Habitat: dry savanna, plains, semidesert |
| Range: Africa: Angola to Mozambique, south to N. South Africa | |
The hyena has a bulky head and its back slopes toward its rear. The brown hyena has long, rough hair over much of its body. It has a mane of even longer hair on the neck and shoulders. This hyena is usually dark brown, with a lighter-brown mane and legs. The brown hyena is a loner, but it sometimes gathers in a hunting pack.
During the day, the brown hyena sleeps among rocks or tall grass.
It may sleep in a burrow, left by another animal, such as an aardvark.
It comes out at night to find carrion or to hunt prey such as rodents, birds, including poultry, reptiles or wounded large animals. Near the coast, brown hyenas also feed on dead fish, mussels and the stranded corpses of seals and whales. Although protected in game reserves, brown hyenas are considered pests because of their habit of attacking livestock, and large numbers have been killed by farmers.
