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In Touch With Nature – The difference between hyenas and wild dogs #hyena #wilddogs #Intouchwithnature

Posted: May 22, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Africa, Animals, In Touch With Nature, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , |56 Comments
A landscape with the words: In Touch With Nature, "The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for." Ernest Hemmingway

My In Touch With Nature post last month was all about wild dogs. You can read that post here: https://writingtoberead.com/2024/04/24/in-touch-with-nature-highly-endangered-african-painted-wild-dogs-africanwildlife-africanwilddogs/

Several readers questioned the relationship between hyenas and wild dogs. I didn’t realise that there was confusion between these creatures because I’ve grown up knowing the differences (or some of them at least). This month, I am providing some insights into those differences.

First and foremost, wild dogs are canines and hyenas are Hyaenidae. Hyenas are considered to be ‘cat-like’ carnivores and are evolutionarily closer to felines than canines.

Appearance

Wild dogs have large, rounded ears that stand up on their heads as if perpetually listening. The African painted wild dog has a pattern on its coat that resembles paint splashes in white, ochre, and black. Wild dogs are the largest of the African canine and measure between 60 and 75 centimetres tall at their shoulders. They weight between 18 and 36 kilograms and have long, slender legs.

Picture caption: African painted wild dog with large, rounded ears and long slender ears.

Hyenas have smaller ears that they draw back towards their heads. The spotted hyena has a brown-coloured coat with small dark brown spots scattered all over it and a main of longer hair. Spotted hyenas have short hind legs and longer front legs. They are larger and stronger than wild dogs having a height of up to 92 centimetres at the shoulder and a weight of up to 86 kilograms.

Behaviour

Wild dogs

Wild dogs are always on the move as they are threatened by bigger, stronger predators. They live in packs ranging from approximately 7 to 15 members and roam huge territories in search of food. Male wild dogs stay with their birth packs and females leave and find another one to join.

Packs are usually led by a dominant pair, although every member plays a valuable role. Team players, wild dogs care for other members of their pack and never leave a pack member behind.

Wild dogs are known for their endurance and can run long distances to wear down their prey. Wild dogs can reach a top speed of approximately 60 kilometres per hour (44 miles per hour).

Wild dogs are primarily diurnal like cheetahs, meaning they hunt during the day. Wild dogs are excellent hunters with an 85% hunting success rate, making them one of the most successful predators in the world. Working as a team, they can wear down animals like zebras, wildebeest (gnu) and large antelope like kudu. During a hunt, each member assumes a role as follows: subordinate males separate the target, the pack leader runs down the prey, and the others fan out to cover escape routes. Wild dogs nip and tear at their prey with their teeth as it continues to run away from them.

Hyenas

Hyenas live in groups, or clans, of between 6 and 100 individuals. Their complex social hierarchies are dominated by the larger and more aggressive females. They are much more aggressive than wild dogs and spend a lot of time fighting among each other. Despite this behaviour, the members of the pack work together to raise their young. Juveniles eat first at kills and the older females tend to sick and elderly pack members, even regurgitating food for them.

Opportunistic hunters and scavengers, hyenas have a reputation for stealing food from other predators. Hyenas are nocturnal meaning they hunt at night. Although they look ungainly, spotted hyenas can pursue prey for several kilometres without tiring. They can reach a top speed of approximately 60 kilometres per hour (37 miles per hour) and their heart is, proportionately, twice as big as a lion’s. Spotted hyenas often hunt alone but they can take down larger prey if they hunt as a pack. However, if the opportunity presents itself, they will steal from other predators including cheetahs and wild dogs.

Picture caption: Juvenile spotted hyena in the sunlight
Picture caption: Juvenile hyena with its brown coat covered in small darker markings and its mane of longer hair.
Picture caption: Adult spotted hyena
Picture caption: Spotted hyena cub

YT video of a young spotted hyena in the wild:

YT video of an adult spotted hyena:

The poem below, from my book Lion Scream, is about the unusual genitalia and birthing process of spotted hyenas. I wrote a guest post about which featured on my lovely blogging friend, Meeks’, blog. If you missed it, you can read it here: https://acflory.wordpress.com/2023/03/19/the-hyena-natures-feminist/

Nature’s Trick

My gender is obscure
One of nature’s tricks
I have the same appendages as my mate
I am also bigger
Much more aggressive
***
Birthing is difficult
My babies – stillborn
After suffocating in my birth canal
Only the strong survive
To continue my line
***
When my pack makes a kill
I get my share first
When all females have fed, and

then our offspring
Then, and only then
Do the males partake

Picture caption: Cover of Lion Scream featuring a lion with its mouth open in a roar.

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Award-winning, bestselling author, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has two published novels and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).

Roberta also has thirteen children’s books and two poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertaEaton17

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

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56 Comments on “In Touch With Nature – The difference between hyenas and wild dogs #hyena #wilddogs #Intouchwithnature”

  1. thomasstigwikman's avatar thomasstigwikman says:
    May 22, 2024 at 1:29 am

    It was great to learn about the difference between African Wild Dogs and Hyenas. They looked similar to me but now I see the difference and I know they aren’t even related. About a week ago I thought Hyenas were canines. Well I know better now.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Darlene's avatar Darlene says:
    May 22, 2024 at 3:51 am

    A great description of the differences between these two animals. The painted dogs are so cute, but I know they are a wild animal.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. merrildsmith's avatar merrildsmith says:
    May 22, 2024 at 4:38 am

    Interesting, Robbie! Thanks for comparing the two.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Annette Rochelle Aben's avatar Annette Rochelle Aben says:
    May 22, 2024 at 4:47 am

    I love the lessons I have learned here, Robbie! You are raising awareness and cultivating empathy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Dave Astor's avatar Dave Astor says:
    May 22, 2024 at 10:53 am

    Fascinating information and images, Robbie!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. petespringer's avatar petespringerauthor says:
    May 22, 2024 at 2:50 pm

    I don’t think of hyenas and wild dogs as being similar species, but it’s not like I’ve had a lot of experiences with either. One time I was backpacking with a buddy in the middle of nowhere and a wild dog came at us aggressively. It must have been an hour until my heart rate returned to normal.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Liz Gauffreau's avatar Liz Gauffreau says:
    May 22, 2024 at 4:49 pm

    I remember the “Nature’s Trick” poem! Thank you for explaining the difference between wild dogs and hyenas. The Australian dingo would be related to the wild dog, then?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. D. Wallace Peach's avatar D. Wallace Peach says:
    May 22, 2024 at 5:54 pm

    Lots of differences, Robbie. They’re easy to see in the photos before you get into the detail of behaviors. A wonderful look at another part of African wildlife. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. And thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:
    May 22, 2024 at 6:37 pm

    I always thought hyenas were bear-like, but I really see the cat resemblance now that you pointed it out. Thanks, as always, for the enlightenment–and enjoy your trip! (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. Book Club Mom's avatar Book Club Mom says:
    May 22, 2024 at 7:27 pm

    Hi Robbie – I found this post very interesting. We do not have hyenas or wild dogs around here so I knew nothing about them or their differences. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and I hope you have a good trip to Norway and back 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. Chris Hall's avatar Chris Hall says:
    May 24, 2024 at 6:36 am

    Hi Robbie, I know these very well! Lovely aren’t they.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. Priscilla Bettis's avatar Priscilla Bettis says:
    May 24, 2024 at 2:56 pm

    This was very interesting, Robbie. They definitely have radically different behaviors.

    Awesome poem, too!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Resa's avatar Resa says:
    May 30, 2024 at 6:59 pm

    Thank you, Robbie! I loved learning this. As always, your images and videos are special.

    These animals are beautiful.

    Thank you, Kaye, for hosting Robbie! She has a lot to teach us.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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