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What the sources say

Striped HyenaHyaena hyaena

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Striped Hyena profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 48 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

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Hyaena hyaena (striped hyena). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysa scavenger's range from northern Africa to India
The source saysThe striped hyena is predominantly a scavenger
The page saysMainly carrion and human refuse, plus raided dates and melons, insects, small animals like hares and reptiles, and for some, livestock
The source saysits diet consisting mainly of carrion and human refuse ... It supplements its diet with fruit, insects, and occasionally by killing small animals like hare, rodents, reptiles, and birds.
The page saysIts diet is mainly carrion (dead animals) and human refuse.
The source saysThe striped hyena is predominantly a scavenger; its diet consisting mainly of carrion and human refuse.
The page saysIt scavenges zebras, wildebeest, gazelles and impalas, even eating the bones once the meat has been picked off.
The source saysIt scavenges large and medium-sized mammals, such as zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, and impalas, even eating bones from carcasses if the meat has been picked off.
The page saysStriped hyenas eat insects too, and occasionally kill hares, rodents, reptiles and birds.
The source saysIt supplements its diet with fruit, insects, and occasionally by killing small animals like hare, rodents, reptiles, and birds.
The page saysIn some areas, striped hyenas leave anal-gland scent marks near feeding sites and well-used paths.
The source saysIn some areas, however, anal-gland marks and latrines have been found near feeding sites and well-used pathways.
The page saysStriped hyenas usually keep around 50 meters from lions and tigers
The source saysThey keep a safe distance, usually around 50 meters, from larger, carnivorous mammals like lions and tigers.
The page saysthey behave submissively toward the larger spotted hyena and let it steal their food
The source saysThe striped hyena behaves submissively towards the larger spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta, and will allow spotted hyenas to steal its food.
The page saysThey forage mostly at night, each travelling alone at an average of 2 to 4 km/h and occasionally trotting at 8 km/h.
The source saysThe striped hyena forages principally at night, individually travelling throughout its home range searching for food in no apparent pattern. Travelling speeds average 2-4 km/h, occasionally increasing to 8 km/h when trotting.

Source
02

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Striped Hyena. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysA raised mane that makes it look nearly twice its size
The source saysIn an instant, a striped hyena can nearly double in size—or at least appear much larger—by raising the hair along its back!
The page saysjaws built to crush bone
The source saysHyenas have a large head and strong jaws filled with huge teeth used to crush bone.
The page saysa scavenger's range from northern Africa to India
The source saysNative to northern Africa, the Middle East, and India
The page saysSemi-deserts, rocky scrubland and savanna across northern Africa, the Middle East and India
The source saysNative to northern Africa, the Middle East, and India, striped hyenas eke out a life in habitat too difficult to live in for other large predators: semideserts, rocky scrublands, and savannas.
The page saysMainly carrion and human refuse, plus raided dates and melons, insects, small animals like hares and reptiles, and for some, livestock
The source saysSome striped hyenas even prey on sheep, goats, donkeys, and horses. ... hyenas have a reputation for stealing crops like dates, melons, cucumbers, and peaches
The page saysJaws that crush and swallow bones, horns and hooves, and a digestive system adapted to maximize the nutrition it gets from its food; only the horns, hooves and hair come back up.
The source saysIts massive jaws help the hyena crush and swallow bones, teeth, horns, and hooves—all body parts that other predators leave uneaten. The hyena's digestive system has adapted to maximize the nutritional value of what they eat; only the horns, hooves, and hair are regurgitated.
The page saysStriped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena) aren't dogs or cats.
The source saysHyenas are not members of the dog or cat families.
The page saysThey belong to their own family, Hyaenidae
The source saysthey have a family all their own, Hyaenidae
The page saystheir closest relatives are mongooses and meerkats
The source saysThe mongoose and the meerkat are the hyena's closest relatives.
The page saysThey stand 66 to 75 centimeters (26 to 30 inches) at the shoulder
The source saysHeight: 26 to 30 inches (66 to 75 centimeters) tall at shoulder
The page saysmeasure 100 to 115 centimeters (39 to 45 inches) long, and the tail is 30 to 40 centimeters (12 to 16 inches)
The source saysLength: 39 to 45 inches (100 to 115 centimeters) long ... Tail length: 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 centimeters)
The page saysFemales weigh 26 to 34 kilograms (57 to 75 pounds), males 26 to 41 kilograms (57 to 90 pounds).
The source saysWeight: Females - 57 to 75 pounds (26 to 34 kilograms); males - 57 to 90 pounds (26 to 41 kilograms)
The page saysThe San Diego Zoo gives their life span as 10 to 12 years.
The source saysLIFE SPAN 10 to 12 yearsNote: The page's full line is "LIFE SPAN 10 to 12 years; 20 not 25 years in zoos". The zoo half reads as garbled (probably "20 to 25") and cannot be represented exactly, so it is cut, and the first figure is attributed to the zoo without a wild label the page never gives. ADW's captive 24.0 years is from an older AnAge copy and is not used.
The page saysA striped hyena's massive jaws crush and swallow bones, teeth, horns and hooves, the body parts other predators leave uneaten
The source saysIts massive jaws help the hyena crush and swallow bones, teeth, horns, and hooves—all body parts that other predators leave uneaten.
The page saysits digestive system is adapted to maximize the nutrition it gets from its food. Only the horns, hooves and hair are brought back up.
The source saysThe hyena's digestive system has adapted to maximize the nutritional value of what they eat; only the horns, hooves, and hair are regurgitated.
The page saysHyenas also have a reputation for raiding crops for dates, melons, cucumbers and peaches.
The source sayshyenas have a reputation for stealing crops like dates, melons, cucumbers, and peaches (a favorite)
The page saysSome striped hyenas prey on sheep, goats, donkeys and horses.
The source saysSome striped hyenas even prey on sheep, goats, donkeys, and horses.
The page saysWhen threatened, a striped hyena raises the mane of long hair along its back and can appear to nearly double in size in an instant.
The source saysA mane of long hair grows along the back.
The page saysWhen threatened, a striped hyena raises the mane of long hair along its back and can appear to nearly double in size in an instant.
The source saysIn an instant, a striped hyena can nearly double in size—or at least appear much larger—by raising the hair along its back!
The page saysThe San Diego Zoo says this is not an act of aggression but the hyena's last effort to pretend to be brave and, it hopes, keep predators farther away.
The source saysThis is not an act of aggression but the hyena’s last effort to "pretend" to be brave and, hopefully, keep what it sees as scary predators farther away.Note: "it hopes" renders the source's "hopefully".
The page saysStriped hyenas were once thought to be solitary, but recent studies show that in some areas they live in small groups of one female and several males.
The source saysOnce thought to be solitary, recent studies have shown that in some areas striped hyenas live in small groups of one female and several males.
The page saysStriped hyenas live in semi-deserts, rocky scrubland and savanna across northern Africa, the Middle East and India.
The source saysNative to northern Africa, the Middle East, and India, striped hyenas eke out a life in habitat too difficult to live in for other large predators: semideserts, rocky scrublands, and savannas.
The page saysThey avoid true deserts and need a water source within 10 kilometers (6 miles).
The source saysThey avoid true deserts and must have a water source within 6 miles (10 kilometers).
The page saysIts massive jaws crush and swallow bones, teeth, horns and hooves, the body parts other predators leave uneaten, and its digestive system is adapted to maximize the nutrition it gets from its food. Only the horns, hooves and hair are brought back up.
The source saysIts massive jaws help the hyena crush and swallow bones, teeth, horns, and hooves—all body parts that other predators leave uneaten. ... The hyena's digestive system has adapted to maximize the nutritional value of what they eat; only the horns, hooves, and hair are regurgitated.
The page saysIt raises the mane of long hair along its back and can appear to nearly double in size in an instant. The San Diego Zoo says this is not an act of aggression but the hyena's last effort to pretend to be brave and, it hopes, keep predators farther away.
The source saysIn an instant, a striped hyena can nearly double in size—or at least appear much larger—by raising the hair along its back! This is not an act of aggression but the hyena’s last effort to "pretend" to be brave and, hopefully, keep what it sees as scary predators farther away.Note: "it hopes" renders the source's "hopefully".

Source
03

AbiSaid & Dloniak 2015

AbiSaid & Dloniak (2015). Hyaena hyaena. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T10274A45195080.

The page saysThe IUCN lists the species as Near Threatened.
The source saysNear ThreatenedNote: IUCN category verified through GBIF's copy of the Red List for this assessment DOI, per docs/fact-check.md.

Source
04

Srivathsa et al. 2019

Srivathsa et al. (2019). Examining human–carnivore interactions using a socio-ecological framework: sympatric wild canids in India as a case study. Royal Society Open Science.

The page saysIn India's Kanha–Pench forests, a study of five carnivores recorded no reports of hyenas killing livestock
The source saysWe did not record any reports of depredation by hyenas.
The page saysIn India's Kanha–Pench forests, a study of five carnivores recorded no reports of hyenas killing livestock
The source saysKanha–Pench forest landscape of central India
The page saysIn India's Kanha–Pench forests, a study of five carnivores recorded no reports of hyenas killing livestock
The source sayswe identified ecological attributes that would influence distribution of the five carnivore species
The page saysunlike wolves, dholes, jackals and foxes there
The source saysDepredation incidents were recorded from 68 sites for wolf, nine sites for dhole and 44 sites for fox. There were no records of depredation by hyena, but incidents attributed to jackal were reported in more than 95% of the sites.
The page saysThe authors say this may fit observations that hyenas are scavengers that do not actively hunt domestic animals.
The source saysThis may corroborate observations that hyenas are scavengers and do not actively hunt domestic prey

Source
05

Bhandari et al. 2020

Bhandari et al. (2020). The diet of the striped hyena in Nepal's lowland regions. Ecology and Evolution.

The page saysIn Nepal's lowlands, though, a study of hyena droppings found livestock made up 17.3 percent of the diet by biomass
The source sayswe studied the feeding ecology of hyenas in lowland, Nepal. We employed an opportunistic sampling to collect hyena scats ... Livestock contributed 17.3% of the total dietary biomass.
The page saysand wild boar was the most preferred prey
The source saysindicating medium‐sized wild boar is the most preferred prey species

Source
06

Theis et al. 2013

Theis et al. (2013). Symbiotic bacteria appear to mediate hyena social odors. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The page saysA study of wild spotted and striped hyenas found the bacteria in their scent glands are mostly fermenting types
The source sayssurvey deeply the bacterial communities in the scent glands of wild spotted and striped hyenas. We show that these communities are dominated by fermentative bacteria
The page saysthe mix of bacteria changes along with the volatile fatty acids (smelly chemicals) in their scent
The source saysthe structures of these communities covary with the volatile fatty acid profiles of scent secretions in both hyena species
The page saysThe authors say the results suggest bacteria are behind each species' own smell.
The source sayssuggesting that symbiotic bacteria underlie species-specific odors in both spotted and striped hyenas

Source
07

Sakai et al. 2011

Sakai et al. (2011). Brain Size and Social Complexity: A Computed Tomography Study in Hyaenidae. Brain, Behavior and Evolution.

The page saysThe spotted hyena lives in complex, ranked groups of up to 90 animals.
The source saysthe spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) lives in complex hierarchically organized groups containing up to 90 animals
The page saysA brain-scan study found it has the largest brain relative to body size of the four living hyena species.
The source saysHyaenidae contains 4 extant species ... Computed tomography was used to create three-dimensional endocasts ... The largest brain volume, relative to body size, is found in the spotted hyena.
The page saysStriped hyenas live alone or in small groups, while spotted hyenas live in complex, ranked groups of up to 90 animals. A brain-scan study found the spotted hyena has the largest brain relative to body size of the four hyena species, and a larger front section of the brain. The authors say that fits the idea that complex social lives drive the growth of that front section, though other factors may play a part.
The source saysthe striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) lives solitarily or in small groups; ... the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) lives in complex hierarchically organized groups containing up to 90 animals. Computed tomography was used ... The largest brain volume, relative to body size, is found in the spotted hyena. ... The spotted hyena also possesses a larger anterior cerebrum volume relative to total brain volume than is found in the other hyena species; this region is composed primarily of frontal cortex. These data are consistent with the idea that expansion of the frontal cortex is driven by the demands of processing cognitive information associated with complex social lives, but other factors may drive the evolution of large brains in hyaenids.

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.