PRELIMS BITS
Why in News?
A recent study has found that the spotted hyena, once extinct in Egypt for over 5,000 years, has reappeared in southern Egypt.
Overview:
- Scientific Name: Crocuta crocuta
- Family: Hyaenidae (largest member of the Hyaenidae family)
- Weight: 40-86 kg (females usually heavier than males)
- Diet: Carnivorous
- Habitat: Semi-desert, savanna, open woodland, dry woodland, and montane regions
- Range: Sub-Saharan Africa, historically across Africa and Eurasia
Key Features:
- Physical Traits: Vaguely bear-like body, rounded ears, spotted fur, less prominent mane, and dual-purpose teeth.
- Unique Trait: Females have a pseudo-penis and lack an external vaginal opening.
- Social Behavior: Highly social and nocturnal, living in large groups called clans.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- CITES Appendix: Not listed
- Population in the Wild: 27,000-47,000 individuals, with significant populations in Serengeti and Kruger National Park
- Threats: Habitat loss and poaching