Females weighing up to 90 kg, the powerfully built hyena is second biggest African carnivore after the lion.

The species is particularly known for three things: first, its hermaphroditic sex organs, i.e. in addition to normal female sex organs, the female hyena has an elongated pseudo-penis, due to high testosterone levels, used for displays of dominance. Second, the massive teeth of the animal are able to cut through the bones and skin of all contemporary fauna, including elephants and rhinos. Third, the hyaena is more often heard than seen: the loud, long-distance call, a repetitive and reverberating hoot “hoot-up”, carries up to 5 km. Less frequent is its famous “laugh”, used for social appeasement.

They live in groups or clans of 3-15 (up to 80), may forage singly too.

An opportunistic carnivore and primarily a scavenger. Hyaenas’ hunting success is more dependent on the vulnerability of prey than its abundance. Often seen depriving cheetah and leopard of their kills. Foods range from invertebrates, mudfish, reptiles (such as tortoises) to large mammals, and even household garbage.