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7 Hyena Facts For Kids

navajocodetalkersadmin on December 15, 2014 - 8:07 pm in Fun Facts for Kids

1. A hyena is an animal that lives almost exclusively in Africa, and while it looks very much like a dog, it’s actually closer to the cat family than anything else. They are fast and good hunters and will catch other animals with their teeth rather than their paws, making them very unique. They are also very good runners, as they have sharp claws that dig into the ground and that help them to make quick turns and keep themselves steady when running.

2. The hyena is actually somewhat dangerous because of how well it hunts, but it’s also a very interesting animal that is often depicted in movies and cartoons. Check out these fun facts about hyenas and what they’re really like.

How They Look

3. One reason that many people assume hyenas are a type of dog is that they look something like dogs. They are larger than common cats and have elongated snouts with round, pointed ears that look like dog ears. They also keep their head lowered down when they hunt or are tracking prey, and this too makes them look like dogs. Cats don’t typically hunch down when hunting or have such pointed faces.

4. The fur of a hyena looks more like cats than dogs, as it may have spots or long stripes that resemble those found on the fur of cats. Their color is usually a cream or tan with darker and deeper colors on their stripes.

How They Behave

5. While hyenas may look like dogs, they act more like cats. They groom themselves by licking their fur all over just as cats do. They also whine like cats when in distress or when trying to scare away another animal. Cats also catch their prey with their teeth and not their claws, as do hyenas.

6. Hyenas will often eat just about any smaller animal it can hunt and attack, and it may also eat insects as well as fruit it finds. It may even eat termites and other big bugs that are common in Africa.

7. Because they hunt for food, hyenas will sometimes attack people especially during the summer when people in Africa may sleep outside to stay cooler. Hyenas don’t attack for any reason other than for hunting, but when they find people that sleep outdoors they may stay and continue to hunt in the same area. Humans also hunt hyenas, using them in their medicines and for food.

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