Parahyaena brunnea
Strandloper: where it scavenges along the coastline
Primarily nocturnal, the Brown Hyena is a medium size animal with a shoulder height of 28 - 35 inches (70 to 80 cm) and weight of approximately 86 lbs (39 kg) kilograms or slightly more. Like the Spotted Hyena it has long legs and a sloping back. The head is broad and the short muzzle equipped with powerful teeth and jaws which facilitate in cracking long bones for their marrow. Long pointed ears give it a faint resemblance to a German Shepard dog. A long, dark brown to black, coarse coat covers most of the body while the head and neck are gray. Legs have brown and gray striping.
Gender differences:
Males are slightly larger otherwise there is little difference in color and size
Habitat:
The Brown Hyena inhabits open scrub, woodland savanna, grasslands and semi deserts. In coastal areas it scavenge on beaches. It is found in the southern tip of Africa with the majority of the populations being in the southern Kalahari and coastal areas of southwest Africa.
Diet:
Mainly a nocturnal scavenger it will feed on the carcasses of large animals killed by other predators. They are tolerant of each other when feeding at a large carcass, but they will only feed three at a time, any others have to wait their turn. In the coastal areas which it inhabits its diet includes the carcasses of seals and other small marine animals that wash ashore. However, the Brown Hyena does hunt, killing a variety of small mammals, up to the size of young antelope, and some reptiles and insects. In the dry season they will eat fruit and mushrooms which provide them with most of the water they need.
Reproduction:
Mating generally takes place between May and August and females may come into estrus several times during those months. Gestation is roughly 95 days and the young are born between August and November. The den is often an aardvark hole (from which the aardvark has been evicted) but sometimes the female will dig her own den. An average litter is 1 - 5 pups with 2 - 3 being the norm. Unlike the Spotted Hyena whose pups are born black and change color as they grow, the Brown Hyena pups are born with adult coloration. Also unlike the Spotted Hyena, the pups will nurse from any lactating female in the clan. By three months of age the pups are able to leave the den, they are weaned by 14 months and are fully grown by 30 months.
Other:
Brown Hyenas live in small clans which collectively defend a territory but they do not forage/hunt together. They will, however, share large carcasses with the rest of the clan. There is a strict social hierarchy within each sex which governs feeding time at a carcass, the number of times a male can mate and also maternal duties. The alpha female and male are equal in rank and status. Ritualized forms of aggression, such as neck and jaw biting, help to maintain the heirarchy. It is common for members of the clan, even females, to move between clans and eventually all males leave their natal clan. A percentage of males do not join another clan but become nomades and it is they who do most of the breeding. Rarely do clan males show an interest in their own clan's females.
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