Hyena cuisine
(Image credit: Eli M. Swanson)
A spotted hyena pulls on a carcass.
Dinner is served
(Image credit: Eli M. Swanson)
Hyenas tear into a carcass as scavengering birds wait their turn. Hyenas eat almost everything on a carcass, including the bones.
Alert diner
(Image credit: Eli M. Swanson)
A spotted hyena wearing a radio collar stands at alert over a carcass.
Lone hyena
(Image credit: Eli M. Swanson)
Spotted hyenas are known for their "laughs," but research shows the hyena giggles are anything but light-hearted. The animals usually make the noise during social conflicts.
Hyena and cub
(Image credit: Eli M. Swanson)
Hyenas are aggressive, but they know how to cooperate. According to a 2009 study published in the journal Animal Behavior, hyenas are quicker learners than non-human primates when it comes to figuring out how to do a task to get food.
Dig in
(Image credit: Eli M. Swanson)
A spotted hyena enjoys a meal. Hyena females outrank males and get to eat first.