Aardwolf-Proteles Cristata

Description

Aardwolves are medium sized, larger than jackal carnivore, weight average 8 to 12 kg and measures 47 cm to shoulder. It has mane like striped hyena which start from head and end at tail. Flat skulled and black bare nuzzle large pointed ears. Its creamy whitish color has narrow three black vertical stripes ends underneath. Forelegs are longer than hind legs stripped upper part and darker toward the feet. Aardwolves are different from hyenas by their five digits in their forelegs, and have four in their hind legs. The first claws of forelegs digits are sharp and strong. They have broad spatulate tongue that covered with harden papillae.

Reproduction

Mating takes place during late June and early of July. Gestation period is approximately 90 days, and give birth from two to four cubs at a time.

Food

Termites are Aardwolf’s common food species, they also feed; moths, beetles, grasshoppers and small invertebrates. It also believed that they sometimes hunt small vertebrates.

Habitat

Aardwolf is endemic to Africa, distributed in arid and semi-arid lands of eastern part and southern of the continent. Found in Ethiopia distributed in north-eastern part of the country including central Rift Valley.

Striped Hyena – /Hyaena Hyaena/

Description

. Striped hyena is medium-sized carnivore with overall appearance reminiscent of a dog. Muzzle pointed and head broad with long, pointed ears. Black slopes downward from head to tail. Coat has black vertical stripes on side, horizontal stripes on legs and a distinctive dark patch on the throat. Hind legs are longer than forelegs its coloration looks dark brown. White blond black tipped mane start from his head and cover back to end of tail. Female Aardwolves are smaller in size than the male one, they have six nipples. They are not comfortable living in cold weather. When compared with spotted hyena his head is smaller but has thick and well-muscled neck which helps to crush by far sun dried bone.

They are omnivorous scavenger; it has been reported to consume a wide variety of vertebrates, invertebrates, vegetables and wastes

Reproduction

They have a one day long sex mating period, gestation lasts 90-91 days. Newborn cubs will range from 1 to 4, measures 660 to 700 g. within 28 weeks their average weight measures 5.6 kg. Sexual maturity period ranges from 2 to 3 years.

Food

As striped hyenas are omnivorous vertebrates, invertebrates, vegetables, fruit, and human organic wastes are common foods. They mostly tend to kill small prays; foxes, hares, and rodents. Well protected vertebrates like small tortoise are a pray.

Habitat

They prefer arid and semi-arid environment where there is water within10 km radius. They are abundant almost in all of northern part of Africa including Sahel, and north eastern part. Ethiopia is one of the countries where striped hyenas are seen easily. Mostly found in a low density distributed broadly.

Spotted Hyena – /crocuta crocuta/

Description

Dog like muzzle covered short black tiny hair, muscled physically hyena. Massively built skull, lack large rounded ears, thick strongly built neck with slightly sloppy back. Variable sized black spots on pelage light brown body color. The color and black spots are varied based on age. Physically the female are big than the male, average size of the female weight is from 48 to 55 kg. Clitorises are similar in both sexes in size when erected.

Reproduction

Breeding takes place all year round. Gestation period takes 110 days, give birth commonly one or two cubs. Newborn cubs weight 1.5 kg. They are capable of eating meat in average three months. Their maturity period is three year. Hyenas are social animal.

Food

Spotted hyena known as opportunistic carnivore and scavenger. Sometimes they kill pray animals in group but most of the times they tend to focus on scavenging carcass, town garbage, and animal waste. They hunt common wildebeests and hartebeests.

Habitat

Endemic to Africa, in Ethiopia hyena is abundant in all areas. It is recorded to present in Ethiopian highlands measures 4100 masl, commonly easily seen in savanna, and semi desert areas near towns and places where human are available.

Source: – Ethiopian Wild Life Conservation Authority