The hyena dog is a member of the canine family. This mammal is a predator and tireless hunter. Lives in the vastness of Africa. Hyena dogs unite and live in a pack. Today the population has declined dramatically and is considered to be at risk of extinction.
Description
The hyena dog is a predatory animal with a lean lean body, rather long and very strong legs, and a large and fluffy tail. Although it looks like a hyena, its closest and only relative is the red wolf. The main difference from other dogs is the presence of four fingers on the front paws, instead of five.
The head, just like a dog’s head, has:
- wide, blunt and short muzzle
- long nose with large lateral passages
- massive jaws with sharp teeth
The hyena-shaped dog is covered with short and sparse fur with an unusual variegated color. She can, pursuing her prey, move at a speed of more than 45 km / h. In the usual conditions of the wild, a hyena dog lives for 8-10 years.
Appearance
The animal keeps its lean body on long and strong legs. Large ears are oval-shaped and stick out. Locator ears pick up sounds well. When there is a hunt, dogs move away and lose their fellows from sight. Then they emit loud lingering sounds that can be caught at a distance of up to two kilometers. In addition, dogs bark sharply and angrily.
The body has a length of about one meter, the growth of the animal is within 80 centimeters, and the weight is from 18 to 36 kilograms. Males are larger than females by five to seven percent. The weight of the dog depends on satiety. She can eat eight to nine kilograms of meat in one meal.
The length of the tail reaches 40 centimeters, and the tip is fluffy and painted white. The color of the skin is peculiar. The general dark brown background is covered with red, white, black spots with an asymmetric pattern. These patterns are unique and inimitable for every dog. The muzzle and ears are black. The dog has large jaws equipped with specialized teeth that can grab prey and tear it apart easily.
Where dwell
The habitat of the hyena dog is the vastness of Africa. Today she lives in protected areas. The range is ruptured, so there is no genetic diversity.
In northern and western Africa, hyena dogs are rare. They mainly live in Senegal, Cameroon, southern Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
What do they eat
Hyena dogs eat zebras, gazelles, antelopes, small rodents. They also attack domestic animals such as sheep and goats.
They easily track down prey due to their keen eyesight. They hunt with the whole flock. Approaching the herd, several dogs burst into the central part of the herd. Animals scatter, and dogs determine who is weaker. Further, half of the flock chases after the victim, and the rest block her path. Then, rushing at it, they tear it to pieces or rip the stomach open. The booty is divided equally. After the hunters are full, they feed the cubs.
Fight of antelope and hyena dogs
Lifestyle
In hyena dogs, activity predominates in the morning. The flock hunts early in the morning and rests in the daytime. If the hunt was unsuccessful in the morning, then in the evening they hunt again, chasing prey.
Hyena dog puppies
Hyena dogs are united in large flocks of 14-100 individuals. The males are commanded by the alpha male leader, and the females are commanded by the alpha female.
The main feature of hyena dogs is that they live peacefully, never fight. Strong animals support the weak, toddlers and the elderly. They do everything together: hunt, rest, play.
