Hyena South Africa stock image Image of park hyaena Biology Diagrams In Africa, three species of hyenas can be found - the spotted hyena, the brown hyena, and the striped hyena - each with its own distinct ecological niche. Ecological Role: Nature's Cleanup Crew: Hyenas are nature's ultimate scavengers, and their keen sense of smell enables them to detect carrion from vast distances. Hyenas are apex predators that sit at the top of the food chain. They prey upon a number of herbivores, including gazelles, impalas, wildebeests and zebras. Few animals are capable of catching and killing healthy adult hyenas but lions, leopards, hunting dogs and other hyenas occasionally eat sick and young hyenas. Spotted Hyena: The big guys, known for their freaky laughs. Brown Hyena: More of the lone wolf type, sticking to southern Africa. Striped Hyena: These look cool with their stripes and are a bit smaller, hanging out in Africa and parts of Asia. Aardwolf: The quirky cousin that prefers munching on termites.
This is an African Savanna Food Web.See if you can identify all the parts of the food web that make this a functioning, healthy ecosystem. Look for: The Producers - the trees, shrubs and grass.. The Primary Consumers - the zebras and elephants.. The Secondary Consumers - the cheetah, hyena.. The Scavengers - the termites, vultures and hyena.. The Decomposers or Detritivores - mushrooms Hyenas belong to their own family, Hyaenidae, which consists of four different species: the brown hyena, striped hyena, spotted hyena, and the aardwolf. Contrary to popular belief, hyenas are highly-skilled hunters who can take down prey that are larger than them, such as wildebeests, antelopes, and sometimes even lions. Below, let's explore This dietary flexibility ensures that the hyena plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, preventing the spread of disease by consuming decaying carrion and returning nutrients back into the food chain. And if you're wondering, hyenas do take care of their own.
African Grassland (Savanna) Food Web Biology Diagrams
Hyenas are known to have large appetites. It is somewhat difficult to know exactly how many pounds of meat or carrion a hyena can eat. However, some studies indicate that they can consume up to 30 pounds (ca. 14 kg) of meat per meal.When these animals have eaten enough and are satisfied, they tend to hide the rest of the food to consume the next day. Where does the hyena sit in the food chain? Hyenas are apex predators that sit at the top of the food chain. They prey upon a number of herbivores, including gazelles, impalas, wildebeests and zebras. Few animals are capable of catching and killing healthy adult hyenas but lions, leopards, hunting dogs and other hyenas occasionally eat sick and
