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What the sources say

Spotted HyenaCrocuta crocuta

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Spotted Hyena profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 51 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Spotted Hyena. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysBone-crushing jaws
The source saysPowerful jaws are able to crush bones with ease.
The page saysmatriarchal clan rule
The source saysSpotted hyenas have a matriarchal society.
The page saysa whoop that carries for miles
The source saysThe "whoop" is a call heard for miles
The page saysSavannas, semi-arid regions, swamps, and mountainous forest across sub-Saharan Africa
The source sayslive in Africa south of the Sahara Desert ... survive in savannas and swamps, as well as semi-arid regions, and even mountainous forest areas
The page saysWildebeest, zebras, Cape buffalo and gazelles, eaten bones and all, plus scavenged leftovers
The source saysThis can include young rhinos, adult wildebeest, zebras, and Cape buffalo ... Smaller packs chase down gazelles ... Spotted hyenas also scavenge, but they have to compete with jackals and vultures for these leftovers ... They eat practically every part of their prey, including skin, hooves, bone, and teeth
The page saysJaws that crush bone with ease
The source saysPowerful jaws are able to crush bones with ease.
The page saysYes: spotted hyenas have a matriarchal society
The source saysSpotted hyenas have a matriarchal society.
The page saysFemales are larger and, on average, much more assertive and aggressive than males
The source saysThe females are larger and, on average, much more assertive and aggressive to the males.Note: reads the source's 'to the males' as 'than', parallel with 'larger'
The page sayseven a low-ranking female's cubs outrank the highest-ranking adult male who has moved in from another clan
The source saysA low-ranking female's cubs rank higher than the highest-ranking adult immigrant male!Note: 'moved in from another clan' for immigrant; the source says males leave their birth clan at maturity
The page saysLower-ranking males are forced to stay on the outskirts of the clan, allowed to join only for a hunt or a fight against another clan or lions
The source saysLower-ranking males are forced to stay on the outskirts of the clan and are only allowed to join during a hunt or a fight against another clan or lions.
The page saysJaws That Crush Bone
The source saysPowerful jaws are able to crush bones with ease.
The page sayshas powerful jaws that crush bone with ease
The source saysPowerful jaws are able to crush bones with ease.
The page saysIt eats practically every part of its prey, including skin, hooves, bone and teeth, which most other predators could not eat
The source saysThey eat practically every part of their prey, including skin, hooves, bone, and teeth. Powerful jaws are able to crush bones with ease. Most other predators couldn't eat those things, even if they tried.
The page saysSpotted hyenas can also digest things that most other animals cannot, like skin and bone, thanks to special acids in their stomach
The source saysSpotted hyenas can digest things that most other animals cannot, like skin and bone. Special acids in their stomach break down these rare delicacies.Note: 'thanks to' paraphrases the source's own link: the acids 'break down these rare delicacies'
The page saysa hyena can eat a third of its own body weight at one meal
The source saysHyenas can eat one-third of their body weight at one meal.
The page saysSpotted hyenas measure 1.2 to 1.8 meters (4 to 5.9 feet) long and stand 77 to 81 centimeters (2.5 to 2.6 feet) at the shoulder
The source saysLength: 4 to 5.9 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) long ... Height: 2.5 to 2.6 feet (77 to 81 centimeters) tall at shoulder
The page saysWeight runs from 40 to 86 kilograms (88 to 190 pounds), and females are 10 percent heavier than males
The source saysWeight: 88 to 190 pounds (40 to 86 kilograms); females are 10 percent heavier than males
The page saysA Strong, Capable Hunter
The source saysthe spotted hyena is a strong, capable hunter.
The page saysThe bigger the clan, the larger its prey, which can include adult wildebeest, zebras and Cape buffalo, while smaller packs chase down gazelles
The source saysThe bigger the hyena clan, the larger its prey. This can include young rhinos, adult wildebeest, zebras, and Cape buffalo ... Smaller packs chase down gazellesNote: the speed was cut: SDZ gives 37 mph (60 km/h) in one paragraph and 30 mph (50 km/h) in its fun facts
The page saysSpotted hyenas also scavenge, competing with jackals and vultures for leftovers
The source saysSpotted hyenas also scavenge, but they have to compete with jackals and vultures for these leftovers.
The page saysClan Rule Is Female
The source saysSpotted hyenas have a matriarchal society.
The page saysA spotted hyena clan can hold up to 100 members, and its society is matriarchal
The source saysThere can be up to 100 individuals in a clan. Spotted hyenas have a matriarchal society.
The page saysThe Most Vocal Mammal in Africa
The source saysthey are the most vocal mammals in Africa, with over 11 different sounds recorded
The page saysMore than 11 different sounds have been recorded from spotted hyenas
The source saysthey are the most vocal mammals in Africa, with over 11 different sounds recorded
The page saysTheir famous giggle sounds like a human laughing, and they use it in moments of nervous excitement or submission to a dominant hyena
The source saysThe famous giggle they produce sounds like a human laughing. This "laugh" is used during times of nervous excitement or submission to a dominant hyena.
The page saysThe whoop, heard for miles, is used to find cubs, advertise territory or bring the clan together, and hyenas can tell which individual is whooping
The source saysThe "whoop" is a call heard for miles and is used to find cubs, advertise territory, or bring the clan together. Spotted hyenas can tell which individual makes the whoop.
The page saysHalf of all spotted hyena young die before they reach maturity
The source saysHalf of all spotted hyena young die before they reach maturity.
The page saysat about three years old
The source saysAge of maturity: 3 years
The page saysSpotted hyenas have more than 11 recorded sounds, from a nervous giggle to a whoop heard for miles
The source saysover 11 different sounds recorded. The famous giggle they produce sounds like a human laughing ... used during times of nervous excitement ... is a call heard for milesNote: vibe.reason; 'nervous giggle' condenses the giggle used during times of nervous excitement

Source
02

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database

Crocuta crocuta (spotted hyena). AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database.

The page saysThe oldest on record lived to 41.1 years in captivity
The source saysMaximum longevity 41.1 years (captivity)Note: AnAge's maximum longevity is the record in its database, so 'on record' keeps that scope

Source
03

Tanner et al. 2008

Tanner et al. (2008). Of arcs and vaults: the biomechanics of bone-cracking in spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.

The page saysin a skull that helps spread the stress of a bite
The source sayspneumatization of the hyena's skull both enhances its ability to resist bending and, together with the vaulted forehead, plays a critical role in evenly dissipating stress away from the facial region
The page saysBreaking open large bones has evolved independently in only three groups of carnivorous mammals, and all of them have robust teeth, domed foreheads and a pronounced crest of bone along the top of the skull
The source saysThe ability to break open large bones has evolved independently in only three groups of carnivorous mammals, all of which have robust teeth, vaulted foreheads, and pronounced sagittal crests.Note: 'domed' for vaulted and 'crest of bone along the top of the skull' for sagittal crest are definitions
The page saysA computer model of a spotted hyena skull mid-bite found the stress running in an arc from the bite point up through the forehead and along that crest
The source sayswe used finite element (FE) analysis to examine patterns of stress distribution in the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) skull during unilateral biting ... During biting, an arc of stress extends from the bite point up through the vaulted forehead and along the sagittal crest.
The page saysThe results suggest the skull's air-filled sinuses, together with the domed forehead, help it resist bending and spread the stress evenly away from the face
The source saysOur results suggest that pneumatization of the hyena's skull both enhances its ability to resist bending and, together with the vaulted forehead, plays a critical role in evenly dissipating stress away from the facial region.Note: pneumatization is the skull's air-filled sinuses; the abstract names the fronto-parietal sinus
The page saysA computer model of a spotted hyena skull mid-bite found the stress running in an arc from the bite point up through the domed forehead and along the bony crest on top of the skull
The source sayswe used finite element (FE) analysis to examine patterns of stress distribution in the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) skull during unilateral biting ... During biting, an arc of stress extends from the bite point up through the vaulted forehead and along the sagittal crest.
The page saysThe results suggest the skull's air-filled sinuses, together with that domed forehead, help it resist bending and spread the stress evenly away from the face
The source saysOur results suggest that pneumatization of the hyena's skull both enhances its ability to resist bending and, together with the vaulted forehead, plays a critical role in evenly dissipating stress away from the facial region.

Source
04

Holekamp et al. 1997

Holekamp et al. (1997). Hunting rates and hunting success in the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Journal of Zoology.

The page saysThey hunt: a seven-year study of one large wild clan in Kenya's Masai Mara recorded 272 hunting attempts, more than 75 percent of them by a lone hyena, even against antelope three times its own body mass
The source saysHunting group size, hunting rates and hunting success were monitored over a seven‐year period among members of one large clan of spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) inhabiting the Masai Mara National Reserve, in south‐west Kenya ... Over 75% of 272 hunting attempts were made by lone hyenas, even when they hunted antelope three times their own body mass
The page saysAbout one in three attempts ended in a catch
The source saysApproximately one‐third of all hunting attempts resulted in prey capture.
The page saysOf the prey they commonly hunted, only zebras were usually hunted in groups
The source saysOf all prey that were commonly hunted, only zebra were usually hunted in groups.
The page saysyoung hyenas were poor hunters and did not reach adult skill until they were five or six years old
The source saysYoung hyenas were poor hunters, and did not achieve adult competency levels until they were 5–6 years old.
The page saysA seven-year study of one large wild clan in Kenya's Masai Mara found that over 75 percent of 272 hunting attempts were made by lone hyenas, even when they hunted antelope three times their own body mass
The source saysHunting group size, hunting rates and hunting success were monitored over a seven‐year period among members of one large clan of spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) inhabiting the Masai Mara National Reserve, in south‐west Kenya ... Over 75% of 272 hunting attempts were made by lone hyenas, even when they hunted antelope three times their own body mass
The page saysabout one in three attempts ended in a catch
The source saysApproximately one‐third of all hunting attempts resulted in prey capture.

Source
05

Engh et al. 2000

Engh et al. (2000). Mechanisms of maternal rank 'inheritance' in the spotted hyaena, Crocuta crocuta. Animal Behaviour.

The page saysHow Cubs Get Their Rank
The source saysMaternal rank 'inheritance', the process by which juveniles attain positions in the dominance hierarchy adjacent to those of their mothers
The page saysYoung hyenas take a place in the dominance hierarchy next to their mothers'
The source saysMaternal rank 'inheritance', the process by which juveniles attain positions in the dominance hierarchy adjacent to those of their mothers, occurs in both cercopithecine primates and spotted hyaenas.
The page saysIn a large wild clan in Kenya, high-ranking mothers intervened on behalf of their cubs more often, and more effectively, than low-ranking mothers did
The source saysWe observed a large clan of free-living spotted hyaenas in Kenya ... high-ranking mothers intervened on behalf of their cubs more frequently and more effectively than low-ranking mothers
The page saysappear to "inherit" their mothers' ranks by strikingly similar mechanisms
The source saysYoung hyaenas and primates thus appear to 'inherit' their mothers' ranks by strikingly similar mechanisms.

Source
06

Holekamp et al. 2011

Holekamp et al. (2011). Society, demography and genetic structure in the spotted hyena. Molecular Ecology.

The page saysYoung monkeys such as baboons and macaques
The source sayssuch cercopithecine primates as baboons and macaquesNote: mechanisms-2000 says cercopithecine primates; society-2012 names baboons and macaques as examples of them

Source
07

Benson-Amram & Holekamp 2012

Benson-Amram & Holekamp (2012). Innovative problem solving by wild spotted hyenas. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

The page saysProblem Solvers
The source saysmore successful problem solvers
The page saysIn a problem-solving test in the wild, the hyenas that tried a greater variety of approaches at first were more successful
The source saysHere we examine innovative problem solving by spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) in their natural habitat, and demonstrate for the first time in a non-human animal that those individuals exhibiting a greater diversity of initial exploratory behaviours are more successful problem solvers
The page saysJuveniles solved the problem as often as adults, while exploring in more varied ways, persisting longer and showing less fear of new things
The source saysjuveniles and adults were equally successful in solving the problem, juveniles were significantly more diverse in their initial exploratory behaviours, more persistent and less neophobic than were adults

Source
08

Bohm & Höner 2015

Bohm & Höner (2015). Crocuta crocuta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T5674A45194782.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysLeast Concern

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.