Striped hyena 1

Striped hyena

Striped hyenasTemporal range: Middle Pleistocene – Recent

Striped hyena at a zoo in Nepal

Conservation status

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification

Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: MammaliaOrder: CarnivoraFamily: HyaenidaeGenus: Hyaena

Species: H. hyaena

Binomial name

Hyaena hyaena(Linnaeus, 1758)

Striped hyena 2

Striped hyena range

Synonyms

Canis hyaena Linnaeus, 1758(numerous others)

The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is a species of true hyena native to North and East Africa, the Middle East, theCaucasus, Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. It is listed by the IUCN as near threatened, as the globalpopulation is estimated to be under 10,000 mature individuals which continues to experience deliberate andincidental persecution along with a decrease in its prey base such that it may come close to meeting a continuingdecline of 10% over the next three generations.It is the smallest of the true hyenas and retains many primitive viverrid characteristics lost in larger species, having asmaller and less specialised skull. Though primarily a scavenger, large specimens have been known to kill their ownprey, and attacks on humans have occurred on rare instances. The striped hyena is a monogamous animal, with bothmales and females assisting one another in raising their cubs. A nocturnal animal, the striped hyena typically onlyemerges in complete darkness, and is quick to return to its lair before sunrise. Though it has a habit of feigning deathwhen attacked, it has also been known to stand its ground against larger predators such as leopards in disputes overfood.The striped hyena features prominently in Middle Eastern and Asian folklore. In some areas, its body parts areconsidered magical, and are used as charms or talismans. It is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, where it is referred toas tzebua or zevoa, though the species is absent in some English translations.

EvolutionThe species may have evolved from H. namaquensis of Pliocene Africa. Striped hyena fossils are common in Africa,with records going back as far as the Middle Pleistocene and even to the Villafranchian. As fossil striped hyenas areabsent from the Mediterranean region, it is likely that the species is a relatively late invader to Eurasia, having likelyspread outside Africa only after the extinction of spotted hyenas in Asia at the end of the Ice Age. The striped hyenaoccurred for some time in Europe during the Pleistocene, having been particularly widespread in France andGermany. It also occurred in Montmaurin, Hollabrunn in Austria, the Furninha Cave in Portugal and the GenistaCaves in Gibraltar. The European form was similar in appearance to modern populations, but was larger, beingcomparable in size to the brown hyena.

Striped hyena 3

Physical description

Build

Skull, as drawn by V. N. Lyakhov.

Dentition, as illustrated in Knight'sSketches in Natural History

The striped hyena has a fairly massive, but short torso set on long legs.The hind legs are significantly shorter than the forelimbs, thus causingthe back to slope downwards. The legs are relatively thin and weak,with the forelegs being bent at the carpal region. The neck is thick,long and largely immobile, while the head is heavy and massive with ashortened facial region. The eyes are small, while the sharply pointedears are very large, broad and set high on the head. Like all hyenas, thestriped hyena has bulky pads on its paws, as well as blunt but powerfulclaws. The tail is short and the terminal hairs do not descend below thecalcaneal tendon. The striped hyena lacks the enlarged clitoris andfalse scrotal sack noted in the female genitalia of the spotted hyena.The female has 3 pairs of teats. Adult weight can range from 22 to55 kg (49 to 121 lb), averaging at about 35 kg (77 lb). Body length canrange from 85 to 130 cm (33 to 51 in), not counting a tail of 25 to40 cm (9.8 to 15.7 in), and shoulder height is between 60–80 cm(24–31 in).[2][3][4] The male has a large pouch of naked skin located atthe anal opening. Large anal glands open into it from above the anus.Several sebaceous glands are present between the openings of the analglands and above them. The anus can be everted up to a length of 5 cm,and is everted during social interaction and mating. When attacked, thestriped hyena everts its rectum and sprays a pungent smelling liquidfrom its anal glands. Its eyesight is acute, though its senses of smelland hearing are weak.

The skull is entirely typical of the genus, having a very high sagittalcrest, a shortened facial region and an inflated frontal bone. The skullof the striped hyena differs from that of the brown and spotted hyenaby its smaller size and slightly less massive build. It is nonetheless stillpowerfully structured and well adapted to anchoring exceptionallystrong jaw muscles which give it enough bite-force to splinter a camel'sthigh bone. Although the dentition is overall smaller than that of thespotted hyena, the upper molar of the striped hyena is far larger. Thedental formula is:

Striped hyena 4

Skeleton.

Dentition

3.1.4.0-1

3.1.3.1

FurThe winter coat is unusually long and uniform for an animal its size, with a luxuriant mane of tough, long hairs alongthe back from the occiput to the base of the tail. The coat is generally coarse and bristly, though this varies accordingto season. In winter, the coat is fairly dense, soft, and has well-developed underfur. The guard hairs are 50–75 mmlong on the flanks, 150–225 mm long on the mane and 150 mm on the tail. In summer, the coat is much shorter andcoarser, and lacks underfur, though the mane remains large.In winter, the coat is usually of a dirty-brownish grey or dirty gray colour. The hairs of the mane are light grey orwhite at the base, and black or dark brown at the tips. The muzzle is dark, greyish brown, brownish-grey or black,while the top of the head and cheeks are more lightly coloured. The ears are almost black. A large black spot ispresent on the front of the neck, and is separated from the chin by a light zone. A dark field ascends from the flanksascending to the rear of the cheeks. The inner and outer surface of the forelegs are covered with small dark spots andtransverse stripes. The flanks have four indistinct dark vertical stripes and rows of diffused spots. The outer surfaceof the thighs has 3–4 distinct vertical or oblique dark bands which merge into transverse stripes in the lower portionof the legs. The tip of the tail is black with white underfur.

Geographic variationAs of 2005[5], no subspecies are recognised. The striped hyena is nonetheless a geographically varied animal.Hyenas in the Arabian peninsula have an accentuated blackish dorsal mane, with mid-dorsal hairs reaching 20 cm inlength. The base colour of Arabian hyenas is grey to whitish grey, with dusky grey muzzles and buff yellow belowthe eyes. Hyenas in Israel have a dorsal crest which is mixed grey and black in colour, rather than beingpredominantly black. The largest striped hyenas come from the Middle East, Asia minor, central Asia and the Indiansubcontinent, while those of east Africa and the Arabian peninsula are smaller.

Striped hyena 5

Behavior

A pair of striped hyenas fighting at the ColchesterZoo

Social and territorial behaviours

The striped hyena is a primarily nocturnal animal, which typically onlyleaves its den at the onset of total darkness, returning before sunrise.Striped hyenas typically live in groups of 1–2 animals, though groupsof up to seven animals are known in Libya. They are generally notterritorial animals, with home ranges of different groups oftenoverlapping each other. Home ranges in the Serengheti have beenrecorded to be 44 km2 (17 sq mi)-72 km2 (28 sq mi), while one in theNegev desert was calculated at 61 km2 (24 sq mi). When marking theirterritory, striped hyenas use the paste of their anal pouch (hyena butter)to scent mark grass, stalks, stones, tree trunks and other objects. In

aggressive encounters, the black patch near the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae is erected. When fighting, stripedhyenas will bite at the throat and legs, but avoid the mane, which serves as a signalling device. When greeting eachother, they lick the mid-back region, sniff each other's noses, extrude their anal pouch or paw each other's throats.The species is not as vocal as the spotted hyena, its vocalisations being limited to a chattering laugh and howling.

Illustration from Frank Finn's Wild Beasts of theWorld (1909)

Reproduction and development

The striped hyena is monogamous, with the male helping the female toestablish a den, raise young and feed her when cubs are born. Themating season varies according to location; in Transcaucasia, hyenasbreed in January–February, while those in southeast Turkmenia breedin October–November. In captivity, breeding is non-seasonal. Matingcan occur at any time of the day, during which the male grips the skinof the female's neck.

The gestation period lasts 90–91 days. Striped hyena cubs are bornwith adult markings, closed eyes and small ears. This is in markedcontrast to newborn spotted hyena cubs which are born almost fullydeveloped, though with black, unmarked coats. Their eyes open after7–8 days, and leave their dens after one month. Cubs are weaned at theage of 2 months, and are then fed by both parents. Despite the males'assistance, female hyenas are very protective of their cubs, and willchase their mates away from the cubs if they approach too closely. Byautumn, the cubs are half the size of their parents. In the wild, stripedhyenas can live for 12 years, while in captivity they have been known

to reach 23.

Burrowing behavioursThe striped hyena may dig its own dens, but it also establishes its lairs in caves, rock fissures, erosion channels and burrows formerly occupied by porcupines, wolves, warthogs and aardvarks. Hyena dens can be identified by the presence of bones at their entrances. The striped hyena hides in caves, niches, pits, dense thickets, reeds and plume grass during the day to shelter from predators, heat or winter cold. The size and elaboration of striped hyena dens varies according to location ; dens in the Karakum have entrances 0.67–0.72 m wide and are extended over a distance of 4.15–5 m, with no lateral extensions or special chambers. In contrast, hyena dens in Israel are much more

Striped hyena 6

elaborate and large, exceeding 27 m in length.

Diet

Stuffed striped hyena defending a sheep carcassfrom hooded crows, as shown in The Museum of

Zoology, St. Petersburg

The striped hyena is primarily a scavenger which feeds mainly onungulate carcasses in different stages of decomposition, fresh bones,cartilages, ligaments and bone marrow. It crushes long bones into fineparticles and swallows them, though sometimes entire bones are eatenwhole. The striped hyena is not a fussy eater, though it has an aversionto vulture flesh. It will occasionally attack and kill any animal it canovercome. It hunts prey by running it down, grabbing its flanks orgroin and inflicting mortal wounds by tearing out the viscera. InTurkmenistan, the species is recorded to feed on wild boar, kulan,porcupines and tortoises. A seasonal abundance of oil willow fruits isan important food source in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, while in theCaucasuses, it is grasshoppers. In Israel, the striped hyena feeds ongarbage, carrion and fruits. In eastern Jordan, its main sources of food are feral horse and water buffalo carcasses andvillage refuse. It has been suggested that only the large hyenas of the Middle East, Asia minor, central Asia and theIndian subcontinent attack large prey, with no evidence of their smaller Arabian and east African cousins doing so.Because of its scavenging diet, the striped hyena requires more water to survive than most other carnivores. Wheneating, the striped hyena gorges itself until satisfied, though hyenas with cubs will transport food to their dens.Because of the high content of calcium in its diet, the faeces of the striped hyena becomes white very rapidly, andcan be visible from long distances.

Relationships with other predatorsThe striped hyena competes with the gray wolf in the Middle East and central Asia. In the latter area, a great portionof the hyena's diet stems from wolf-killed carcasses. The striped hyena is dominant over the wolf on a one to onebasis, though wolves in packs can displace single hyenas from carcasses. Both species have been known to sharedens on occasion.[6] Red foxes may compete with striped hyenas on large carcasses. Red foxes may give way tohyenas on unopened carcasses, as the latter's stronger jaws can easily tear open flesh which is too tough for foxes.Foxes may harass hyenas, using their smaller size and greater speed to avoid the hyena's attacks. Sometimes, foxesseem to deliberately torment hyenas even when there is no food at stake. Some foxes may mistime their attacks, andare killed.[7]

The species frequently scavenges from the kills of felids such as tigers, leopards, cheetahs and caracals. A caracalcan drive a subadult hyena from a carcass. The hyena usually wins in one-to-one disputes over carcasses withleopards, cheetahs and tiger cubs, but is dominated by adult tigers.

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Range and population

A wild individual at Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar

The striped hyena's historical rangeencompasses Africa north of andincluding the Sahel zone, easternAfrica south into Tanzania, theArabian Peninsula and the Middle Eastup to the Mediterranean shores,Turkey, Iraq, the Caucasus(Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia), Iran,Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,Afghanistan (excluding the higherareas of Hindukush) and the IndianSubcontinent. Today the species'distribution is patchy in most ranges,thus indicating that it occurs in manyisolated populations, particularly inmost of west Africa, most of the

Sahara, parts of the Middle East, the Caucasus and central Asia. It does however have a continuous distribution overlarge areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Its modern distribution in Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan is unknownwith some sizable large number in India in open areas of Deccan Peninsula.

Country Population Status Threats/Protection

Afghanistan Unknown Data Deficient Striped hyenas are caught, either for hyena-baiting or for medicinalpurposes

Algeria 50–100 Threatened Although protected by décret no. 83-509, striped hyenas are declining inAlgeria due to poaching, forest fires and the disturbing of den sites

Burkina Faso 100-1,000 Data Deficient Burkina Faso's striped hyena population is low but stable, with huntingonly being permitted outside national parks and in retaliation tolivestock losses

Cameroon 100-1,000 Data Deficient Cameroon's striped hyenas are afforded no protection or specialattention

Caucasus (Armenia,Azerbaidjan,Georgia)

150–200 Threatened Declining in all three countries due to hunting for fur and in retaliationto attacks on humans.Other factors include habitat loss, a reduction inlarge herbivore populations and changes in livestock management

Chad Unknown Data Deficient

Egypt 1,000–2,000 Data Deficient Striped hyenas are offered no protection, and are hunted and poisonedas pests. There is also a reduced availability of animal carcasses forthem to feed on

Ethiopia, Djibouti,Eritrea

Unknown Lower Risk in Ethiopia andData Deficient in Eritrea, withno records in Djibouti

Ethiopian hyenas are specially protected under Schedule 5 of theWildlife Conservation Amendment Regulations (1974), though theymay be hunted under special permit for EtBirr 40 (equivalent to US$20)for science, education or zoology

India 1,000–3,000 Data Deficient Although India's hyenas are protected, this is given only withinconservation areas, and the population is in decline due to poaching,competition with leopards over shelter and diminishing food stocks

Iran Unknown Data Deficient Striped hyenas are protected by law

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Iraq 100-1,000 Threatened Iraqi hyena populations are decreasing, though wildlife laws regulatetheir hunting

Israel 100–170 Threatened Although hyenas have largely recovered from the strychnine poisoningcampaigns of 1918–1948, and are protected by law, the current naturereserves housing them may be too small to ensure viable populations.Road accidents are their most serious threat

Jordan Unknown Threatened Hyenas are actively hunted, as they are considered threats to human life

Kenya 1,000–2,000 Lower Risk Striped hyenas are likely to decrease in Kenya because of acceleratedhabitat destruction and poaching

Kuwait 0 Probably extinct

Lebanon Unknown Data Deficient

Libya Unknown Data Deficient

Mali Unknown Data Deficient

Mauritiana Unknown Data Deficient

Morocco 50–500 Threatened Though protected by law, the hyena population is in drastic decline,with the remaining individuals now having withdrawn to the southernmountains

Nepal 10–50 Data Deficient Although a small population of hyenas is confirmed, it is not considereda priority for protection by the government

Niger 100–500 Threatened Declining due to officially sanctioned hunting and persecutioncampaigns, as well as habitat loss and overgrazing

Nigeria Unknown Threatened

Oman 100-1,000 Threatened Although not protected, striped hyenas are not officially persecuted, andare considered useful scavengers

Pakistan Unknown Data Deficient

Saudi Arabia 100-1,000 Threatened Though not officially persecuted, Arabian hyenas are not offeredprotection, and are severely poached

Senegal 50–100 Threatened

Somalia Unknown Data Deficient

Sudan Unknown Data Deficient

Syria Unknown Data Deficient

Tajikistan Unknown Threatened

Tanzania Unknown Data Deficient Striped hyenas can be hunted, though they are not usually a targetspecies. Road accidents are the most frequently recorded cause ofmortality

Tunisia Unknown Data Deficient

Turkey Small isolatedpopulations[8]

Threatened[9][10]

Turkmenistan 100–500 Threatened Declining from hunting, though listed in the Red Data Book ofTurkmenia

United ArabEmirates

0 Probably extinct

Uzbekistan 25–100 Threatened Striped hyena populations have declined over decades from activehunting and habitat loss, though they are listed in the Red Data Book ofUzbekistan and are protected

Striped hyena 9

Western Sahara Unknown Data Deficient

Yemen Unknown Data Deficient

Relationships with humans

In folklore and mythology

Striped hyena pugmark/track in wet clay.Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

A striped hyena, as depicted on the Nile mosaicof Palestrina

Striped hyenas are frequently referenced in Middle Eastern literatureand folklore, typically as symbols of treachery and stupidity.[11] In theNear and Middle East, striped hyenas are generally regarded asphysical incarnations of jinns.[] Arab writer Al-Quazweeni(1204–1283) spoke of a tribe of people called Al-Dabeyoun meaning"hyena people". In his book Aajeb Al-Makhlouqat he wrote that shouldone of this tribe be in a group of 1000 people, a hyena could pick himout and eat him. A Persian medical treatise written in 1376 tells how tocure cannibalistic people known as kaftar, who are said to be“half-man, half-hyena”. Al-Doumairy in his writings in HawayanAl-Koubra (1406) wrote that striped hyenas were vampiric creaturesthat attacked people at night and sucked the blood from their necks. Healso wrote that hyenas only attacked brave people. Arab folklore tellsof how hyenas can mesmerise victims with their eyes or sometimeswith their pheromones. In a similar vein to Al-Doumairy, the Greeks,until the end of the 19th century, believed that the bodies ofwerewolves, if not destroyed, would haunt battlefields as vampirichyenas which drank the blood of dying soldiers. The image of stripedhyenas in Afghanistan, India and Palestine is more varied. Thoughfeared, striped hyenas were also symbolic for love and fertility, leadingto numerous varieties of love medicine derived from hyena body parts.Among the Baluch and in northern India, witches or magicians are saidto ride striped hyenas at night.

The Arab word for striped hyenas, dhubba, is alluded in a valley inIsrael known as Shaqq-ud-Diba (meaning "cleft of the hyenas") andWadi-Abu-Diba (meaning "valley of the hyenas"). Both places havebeen interpreted by some scholars as being the Biblical Valley ofZeboim mentioned in 1 Samuel 13:18. The Hebrew word for hyena istzebua or zevoa, which literally means "howling creature". Though theAuthorized King James Version of the Bible interprets this word (which appears in Jeremiah 12:9) as referring to a"speckled bird", Henry Baker Tristram argued that it was most likely a hyena being mentioned.

In gnostic thought, the Archon Astaphaios is depicted with a hyena face.[12]

Striped hyena 10

Livestock and crop predationThe striped hyena is sometimes implicated in the killing of livestock, particularly goats, sheep, dogs and poultry.Larger stock is sometimes reportedly taken, though it is possible that these are cases of scavenging mistaken foractual predation. Although most attacks occur at low densities, a substantial number reputedly occur in Egypt,Ethiopia, India, Iraq, and possibly Morocco. In Turkmenistan, they kill dogs, while they kill dogs, sheep and othersmall animals in the Caucasus. Striped hyenas were recorded to kill horses and donkeys in 1950s Iraq. Dogs, sheepand goats are occasionally at risk in Africa. Sheep and goats are also preyed upon in North Africa, Israel, Iran,Pakistan, and India, donkeys in North Africa, Israel, Iran, Pakistan, and India, horses in Iran and dogs in India.Striped hyenas also cause damage on occasion to melon fields and to date palms in date plantations in Israel andEgypt, and to water and honey melon plantations in Turkmenistan.

Attacks on humans and grave desecration

Engraving of a striped hyena attacking a man inThe Naturalist's Cabinet (1806)

In ordinary circumstances, striped hyenas are extremely timid aroundhumans, though they may show bold behaviours toward people atnight. On rare occasions, striped hyenas have preyed on humans. In the1880s, a hyena was reported to have attacked humans, especiallysleeping children, over a three-year period in the Erivan Governorate,with 25 children and 3 adults being wounded in one year. The attacksprovoked local authorities into announcing a reward of 100 rubles forevery hyena killed. Further attacks were reported later in some parts ofTranscaucasia, particularly in 1908. Instances are known in Azerbaijanof striped hyenas killing children sleeping in courtyards during the1930s and 1940s. In 1942, a sleeping guard was mauled in his hut by ahyena in Golyndzhakh. Cases of children being taken by hyenas bynight are known in southeast Turkmenia's Bathyz Nature Reserve. A further attack on a child was reported aroundSerakhs in 1948. Several attacks have occurred in India ; in 1962, nine children were thought to have been taken byhyenas in the town of Bhagalpur in the Bihar State in a six-week period and 19 children up to the age of four werekilled by hyenas in Karnataka, Bihar in 1974. A census on wild animal attacks during a five-year period in the Indianstate of Madhya Pradesh showed that hyenas had only attacked three people, the lowest figure when compared todeaths caused by wolves, gaur, boar, elephants, tigers, leopards and sloth bears.

Though attacks on live humans are rare, striped hyenas will scavenge on human corpses. In Turkey, stones areplaced on graves to stop hyenas digging the bodies out. In World War I, the Turks imposed conscription (safarbarlek) on mount Lebanon. People escaping from the conscription fled north, where many died and weresubsequently eaten by hyenas.

Hunting

Hyena (1739) by Jean-Baptiste Oudry

Striped hyenas were hunted by Ancient Egyptian peasants for duty andamusement along with other animals that were a threat to crops andlivestock. Algerian hunters historically considered the killing of stripedhyenas as beneath their dignity, due to the animal's reputation forcowardice.[13] A similar attitude was held by British sportsmen inBritish India. Although striped hyenas are capable of quickly killing adog with a single bite, they usually feign death when escape from

Striped hyena 11

A striped hyena being speared in British India, asillustrated in the Illustrated London News

hunting dogs is impossible, and will remain in this state for longperiods, even when badly bitten. On some rare occasions, hyenas wereridden down and speared by men on horseback. Although hyenas weregenerally not fast enough to outrun horses, they had the habit ofdoubling and turning frequently during chases, thus ensuring longpursuits. Generally though, hyenas were hunted more as pests thansporting quarries; their scavenging damages skulls, skins and otherarticles from hunter's camps, which made them unpopular amongsportsmen.[14] In the Soviet Union, hyena hunting was not speciallyorganised. Most hyenas were caught incidentally in traps meant forother animals. Some hunters in southern Punjab, Kandahar and Quetta,catch striped hyenas to use them in hyena-baiting. The hyenas arepitted against specially trained dogs, and are restrained with ropes in order to pull them away from the dogs ifnecessary. In Kandahar, hunters locally called payloch (naked foot) hunt striped hyenas by entering their dens nakedwith a noose in hand. When the hyena is cornered at the end of its lair, the hunter murmurs the magic formula “turninto dust, turn into stone,” which causes the animal to enter a hypnotic state of total submission, by which point thehunter can slip a noose over its forelegs and, finally, drag it out of the cave. A similar method was once practised byMesopotamian Arab hunters, who would enter hyena dens and "flatter" the animal, which they believed couldunderstand Arabic. The hunter would murmur "You are very nice and pretty and quite like a lion ; indeed, you are alion". The hyena would then allow the hunter to place a noose around its neck and pose no resistance on beingdragged out of its lair.

Because of its coarse and sparse pelage, the striped hyena is not considered a furbearer, with the few skins sold byhunters often being marketed as poor quality dog or wolf fur. Hyena skins were however once used in preparingchamois leather. The selling price of hyena pelts in the Soviet Union ranged from 45 kopeks to 1 ruble, 80 kopeks.

Striped hyenas as food

An Ancient Egyptian mural showing a stripedhyena being forcefed

A mural depicted on Mereruka's tomb in Sakkara indicates that OldKingdom Egyptians forcefed hyenas in order to fatten them up forfood, though certain scholars have argued that the depicted animalswere really aardwolves. Striped hyenas are still eaten by Egyptianpeasants, Arabian Bedouins, Palestinian laborers, Sinai Bedouins andTuaregs. In the Muslim regions of Sistan, Kohat, Bannu, andCholistan, striped hyena meat is considered halal under the Shafiiteschool, and can therefore be consumed. This represents an exception tothe rule that predatory animals are not to be eaten, due to their beingharaam. This stems from the fact that the striped hyena is an omnivore,rather than a purely carnivorous animal. Among the Bedouin ofArabia, the striped hyena is permitted for human consumption, thoughhyena meat is generally considered more as a medicine than as food.

Striped hyena 12

Striped hyenas in folk magicThe Ancient Greeks and Romans believed the blood, excrement, rectum, genitalia, eyes, tongue, hair, skin, and fat,as well as the ash of different parts of the striped hyena's body, were effective means to ward off evil and to ensurelove and fertility. The Greeks and Romans believed that the genitalia of a hyena “would hold a couple peaceablytogether” and that a hyena anus worn as an amulet on the upper arm would make its male possessor irresistible towomen. In West and South Asia, hyena body parts apparently play an important role in love magic and in themaking of amulets. In Iranian folklore, it is mentioned that a stone found in the hyenas body can serve as a charm ofprotection for whoever wears it on his upper arm. In the Pakistani province of Sindh, the local Muslims place thetooth of a striped hyena over churns in order not to lose the milk's baraka. In Iran, a dried striped hyena pelt isconsidered a potent charm which forces all to succumb to the possessors attraction. In Afghanistan and Pakistanstriped hyena hair is used either in love magic or as a charm in sickness. Hyena blood has been held in high regard innorthern India as potent medicine, and the eating of the tongue helps fight tumors. In the Khyber area, burned stripedhyena fat is applied to a man's genitals or sometimes taken orally to ensure virility, while in India the fat serves as acure for rheumatism. In Afghanistan, some mullahs wear the vulva (kus) of a female striped hyena wrapped in silkunder their armpits for a week. If a man peers through the vulva at the woman of his desire, he will invariably gethold of her. This has led to the proverbial expression in Dari of kus-e kaftar bay, as well as in Pashto of kus-e kaftarwhich literally mean "it happens as smoothly as if you would look through the vulva of a female striped hyena". Inthe North-West Frontier Province and Baluchistan, the Pakhtun keep the vulva in vermilion powder, itself havingaphrodesic connotations. The rectum of a freshly killed striped hyena is likewise used by homosexuals and bisexualsto attract young men. This has led to the expression “to possess the anus of a [striped] hyena” which denotessomebody who is attractive and has many lovers. A striped hyena’s penis kept in a small box filled with vermilionpowder can be used for the same reasons.

TameabilityThe striped hyena is easily tamed and can be fully trained, particularly when young. Although the Ancient Egyptiansdid not consider striped hyenas sacred, they supposedly tamed them for use in hunting. When raised with a firmhand, they may eventually become affectionate and as amenable as well trained dogs, though they emit a strongodour which no amount of bathing will cover.[15] Although they kill dogs in the wild, striped hyenas raised incaptivity can form bonds with them.

References

Notes[1][1] Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of near threatened[2] Mammals: Striped Hyena (http:/ / www. sandiegozoo. org/ animalbytes/ t-striped_hyena. html). San DIego Zoo[3] Boitani, Luigi, Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mammals. Simon & Schuster/Touchstone Books (1984), ISBN 978-0-671-42805-1[4] Awad, Simon (February 2008). Myths and Facts about Hyenas (http:/ / www. thisweekinpalestine. com/ details. php?id=2384& ed=150&

edid=150). thisweekinpalestine.com #118[5] http:/ / en. wikipedia. org/ w/ index. php?title=Striped_hyena& action=edit[6] Johnson, Daniel (1827) Sketches of Indian Field Sports: With Observations on the Animals; Also an Account of Some of the Customs of the

Inhabitants; with a Description of the Art of Catching Serpents, as Practised by the Conjoors and Their Method of Curing Themselves whenBitten: with Remarks on Hydrophobia and Rabid Animals (http:/ / www. archive. org/ stream/ sketchesofindian00johnrich#page/ 46/ mode/2up/ search/ hyena) p. 45-46, R. Jennings, 1827

[7] Macdonald, David (1987) Running with the Fox, p.77-79, Guild Publishing, London, ISBN 0-8160-1886-3[8] Striped hyena in Turkey (http:/ / iberianature. com/ wildworld/ guides/ wildlife-and-nature-of-turkey/ striped-hyena-in-turkey/ ).

Iberianature.com. Retrieved on 2013-03-21.[9] Ö. Emre Can, Yıldıray Lise Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) trapped in Hatay, Turkey (http:/ / www. lcie. org/ Docs/ Regions/ Turkey/

EMRE_striped_hyaena_note. pdf). WWF Turkey[10] Özgün Emre Can (October 2004) Status, Conservation and Management of Large Carnivores in Turkey (http:/ / www. tigerforum. de/

attachments/ 00000000001/ lciTurkey. pdf), WWF-Turkey, p. 11.

Striped hyena 13

[11] Mounir R. Abi-Said (2006) Reviled as a grave robber: The ecology and conservation of striped hyaenas in the human dominated landscapesof Lebanon Ph.D. thesis, University of Kent (Biodiversity management)

[12] The Apocryphon of John (http:/ / gnosis. org/ naghamm/ apocjn. html). Gnosis.org. Retrieved on 2013-03-21.[13] Kingsley, John Sterling (1884) The Standard Natural History, Vol. V: Mammals, Boston: S. E. Cassino and Co.[14] Lydekker, Richard (1907), The game animals of India, Burma, Malaya, and Tibet (http:/ / ia311027. us. archive. org/ 2/ items/

gameanimalsofind00lyde/ gameanimalsofind00lyde. pdf), p. 354, London, R. Ward, limited[15] Smith, A. Mervyn (1904), Sport and adventure in the Indian jungle (http:/ / ia340902. us. archive. org/ 3/ items/ sportadventurein00smitrich/

sportadventurein00smitrich. pdf), p. 292, London : Hurst and Blackett

Bibliography• Heptner, V. G.; Sludskii, A. A. (1992). Mammals of the Soviet Union: Carnivora (hyaenas and cats), Volume 2

(http:/ / www. archive. org/ details/ mammalsofsov221992gept). Smithsonian Institution Libraries and NationalScience Foundation.

• Kurtén, Björn (1968). Pleistocene mammals of Europe. Weidenfeld and Nicolson.• Mills, Gus; Hofer, Heribert (1998). Hyaenas: status survey and conservation action plan (http:/ / data. iucn. org/

dbtw-wpd/ edocs/ 1998-013. pdf). IUCN/SSC Hyena Specialist Group. ISBN 2-8317-0442-1.• Osborn, Dale. J.; Helmy, Ibrahim (1980). The contemporary land mammals of Egypt (including Sinai) (http:/ /

www. archive. org/ details/ contemporaryland05osbo). Field Museum of Natural History.• Pocock, R. I. (1941). Fauna of British India: Mammals Volume 2 (http:/ / www. archive. org/ details/

PocockMammalia2). Taylor and Francis.• Rosevear, Donovan Reginald (1974). The carnivores of West Africa (http:/ / www. archive. org/ details/

carnivoresofwest00rose). London : Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). ISBN 0-565-00723-8.

External links• Anderson, Steven C. (2004), Hyaena hyaena (http:/ / www. iranicaonline. org/ articles/ hyena) entry on

Encyclopaedia Iranica• Rieger, Ingo (1981) Hyaena hyaena, Mammalian Species, No. 150, pp.1–5, 3 figs. American Society of

Mammalogists (http:/ / www. science. smith. edu/ departments/ Biology/ VHAYSSEN/ msi/ pdf/i0076-3519-150-01-0001. pdf)

Wikispecies has information related to: Hyaena hyaena

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hyaena hyaena.

• Striped Hyena Pictures (http:/ / www. feelthewild. com/ galleries/ mammals-photography/ striped-hyena/ )

Article Sources and Contributors 14

Article Sources and ContributorsStriped hyena  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=622331320  Contributors: 17brumco, A2Kafir, Abigail-II, Ahoerstemeier, Altaileopard, Aram-van, Aranae, Arnobarnard,Ashashyou, Auntof6, Avoided, BD2412, Baristarim, Bayern100, Belovedfreak, Bepushingupdaisies, Berean Hunter, Betterusername, BigCatTruth462, Billinghurst, Billspat, Bougnat87,Bruinfan12, Butko, CKA3KA, CambridgeBayWeather, CanisRufus, Carlossuarez46, Chaoyangopterus, CharlesC, Chedorlaomer, Chermundy, Chris the speller, Czgoldbe, D momaya, Darkhyena, Davehi1, Deyyaz, Dolfrog, Donner60, Drmies, Ed88, Elagatis, Elliskev, EoGuy, Erica MZDM, Erik9, ErikHaugen, Ettrig, Everestsh, ExRat, Firsfron, Flavio.brandani, FudgeFury, FuturePerfect at Sunrise, GM Pink Elephant, Gaelen S., Gene Nygaard, Gilgamesh he, Gilliam, Gouerouz, Graham87, Hesperian, Hmains, Hu12, I dream of horses, In Transit, Isfisk, Island, J.delanoy,J04n, Jaan513, Janderk, Jarble, Jauhienij, Jhfjdhfjhsdfkd, Joel7687, John of Reading, Kaarel, Khazar2, KimiSan, Koavf, Kummi, KyotoMiyazaki, LilHelpa, Lillypees, Lockesdonkey, Lord Gøn,Lugia2453, Makalp, Maple leaf eh, Mariomassone, Mark t young, Materialscientist, Matt Deres, Metanoid, Mike Rosoft, Mild Bill Hiccup, Mitternacht90, Mogism, MohanKumarBS, MorneFouche, Mushroom, MusikAnimal, NawlinWiki, NigelR, Nihilrat, NotWith, Numbo3, Octane, Ollios, Oskar71, Pcb21, Pdcook, Pinethicket, Plrk, R'n'B, Random contributor, Rjwilmsi, Sahyadri,Sandhillcrane, Satellizer, SchreiberBike, Seb az86556, Seduisant, Shalom Yechiel, Shpiglet, Shyamal, Slow Graffiti, Snorkelman, Stemonitis, Stfg, Stuthulhu, Sumeetmoghe, Superjav50,Tbjornstad, Tekken50, Template namespace initialisation script, The wub, TheArguer, TheParanoidOne, Tigerbreath13, Tommy2010, Trakesht, Unimath, UriBudnik, UtherSRG, Vanished User4517, Vanished user lt94ma34le12, Vaquero99, Varlaam, Venatico, Vortex Dragon, Woohookitty, Worldbruce, Yaughtmaster, 210 ,باسم anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:Iena Striata.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Iena_Striata.JPG  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: User:Nirmal Dulalderivative work: User:Mariomassonefile:Status iucn3.1 NT.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Status_iucn3.1_NT.svg  License: unknown  Contributors: PengoFile:Striped Hyaena area.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Striped_Hyaena_area.png  License: unknown  Contributors: ChermundyFile:MSU V2P2 - Hyaena hyaena skull.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:MSU_V2P2_-_Hyaena_hyaena_skull.png  License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Contributors: V. N. LyakhovFile:Animaldentition hyaenahyaena.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Animaldentition_hyaenahyaena.png  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Charles KnightFile:Die vergleichende Osteologie (1821) Hyaena hyaena.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Die_vergleichende_Osteologie_(1821)_Hyaena_hyaena.jpg  License:Public Domain  Contributors: Pander, Christian Heinrich, 1794-1865File:Striped hyenas fighting.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Striped_hyenas_fighting.JPG  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:Two_Hyenas.JPG: Midnightblueowl (talk). Original uploader was Midnightblueowl at en.wikipedia derivative work: Mariomassone (talk)File:Winifred austen hyena.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Winifred_austen_hyena.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Frank FinnFile:Stripedhyenacrows.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Stripedhyenacrows.JPG  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:MariomassoneFile:Striped Hyena Adult.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Striped_Hyena_Adult.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:User:SumeetmogheFile:Hyaena pugmark.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Hyaena_pugmark.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: D momayaFile:Hyenamosaic.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Hyenamosaic.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Praeneste_-_Nile_Mosaic_-_Section_3_-_Detail.jpg:WolfgangRieger derivative work: User:MariomassoneFile:Striped hyena shot.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Striped_hyena_shot.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Anonymous engraverFile:OudryHyena.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:OudryHyena.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Dark hyena, Mariomassone, Sfan00 IMGFile:Speared hyena.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Speared_hyena.JPG  License: unknown  Contributors: Dark hyena, Sfan00 IMGFile:Hyena-forcefeed.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Hyena-forcefeed.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Dark hyena, Sfan00 IMG, 4 anonymous editsImage:Wikispecies-logo.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Wikispecies-logo.svg  License: logo  Contributors: (of code) cs:User:-xfi-Image:Commons-logo.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Commons-logo.svg  License: logo  Contributors: Anomie

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