Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

In relation to its body size, the spotted hyena has the most powerful jaws of all mammals. It is unjustly dubbed a lazy scavenger. In reality, it is their strong jaws and powerful legs that allow them to tear prey independently. Their large heart supplies the body with sufficient oxygen for a long time during the hunt, which makes the hyena a persistent hunter.
Spotted hyenas travel in family groups, which are usually led by a female. The newborns are already born with sight and teeth. From their first foray together, the cubs eat meat, although they are not weaned from their mother's milk until months later.

Related to	Carnivores, "cat-like" carnivorans, hyenas (4 species)
Habitat	Open savannah, grasslands and dry steppes and plains with large ungulate populations. Up to 4'100 m.a.s.l.
Mode of life	Diurnal, use burrows (partly self-dug)
Social structure	In groups (clans) with up to 100 animals, hierarchy consisting of females related to each other; males migrate and tend to live on the fringes of the clans
Diet	Insects to large mammals, carrion or animals killed by themselves, waste. Up to 18 kg per meal
Weight	F: 55 to 85 kg, M: 40 to 55 kg, newborn: 900 to 1,200 g
Shoulder height	70 - 90 cm
Mating season	All year round
Gestation time	110 days
Litter size	Up to 4 young
Age of sexual maturity	At the age of 2 to 3 years
Life expectancy	Up to 40 years
At Zoo Zurich since	2020

Distribution

Tierstimme

Sponsors

	A. Bühler, Freienbach
	M. + Ch. Steffen, Stäfa
	E. Wögerer, Gamprin
	E. + W. Haas, Küsnacht
	F. Ebert, Zürich
	P. Gander, Aesch ZH
	R. Gantenbein, Zürich
	Zaunteam Zürich Oberland GmbH, Gutenswil
	J. Rehmann, Nänikon
	U. Staubli-Singer, Bülach