<< Previous Next >>

Spotted Hyena II


Spotted Hyena II
Photo Information
Copyright: Tom Conzemius (pirate) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 799 W: 152 N: 1186] (7474)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-09
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L USM
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): some blood, but it's nature, The predator with the Prey [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-30 6:49
Viewed: 14582
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The same spot than yesterday's picture
from wikipedia:
Hyenas have extremely strong jaws in relation to their body size. In 2005, Dr. Brady Barr of the National Geographic measured the bite forces of many different animals, including spotted hyenas for the documentary Dangerous Encounters: Bite Force. A one year old cub had a bite measured at 273 kilograms (603 pounds) of force, leading to the postulation that a full grown adult could bite at over 453 kilograms (1,000 pounds). This mandibular power, combined with its large pyramid shaped molars allows it to easily crush bone, even those of elephants. An experiment conducted in 1955 showed how the spotted hyena easily outclassed the the much larger brown bear in bone crushing ability.

They also have a very powerful digestive system with highly acidic fluids. This makes them capable of eating and digesting their entire prey, including skin, teeth, horns, bones and even hooves. This results in them having crusty white droppings, due to the amount of calcium they ingest. The hyenas digestive system is so efficient, it can even derive nourishment from mummified corpses. There are even reports of hyenas entering campsites and consuming aluminium pots and pans.Undigestible parts are vomited in the form of pellets.

In the wild, the spotted hyena has an average lifespan of 12 years. In captivity, it can be extended to 25.

The female Spotted Hyena's urogenital system is unique among mammals: the clitoris is elongated to form a fully erectile phallus, the vaginal opening is at the tip of this phallus. - only the shape of the glans at the tip of the phallus makes it possible to differentiate the sexes. The female urinates, mates and gives birth through this pseudo-penis. Since it is impossible to penetrate without the female's cooperation, female hyena have full control over whom they choose to mate with. The male hyena's penis lacks a baculum, a bone found in the genitals of most mammals.

Birth is very difficult: the internal birth canal extends almost to the subcaudal location of the vulva (which in Crocuta is fused to form a scrotum containing fatty pseudo-testes) before turning abruptly towards the clitoris, and the clitoris itself is narrow (although it ruptures with the first parturition, making subsequent births easier). In captivity, many cubs of primiparous mothers are stillborn because of the long labour times involved, and in the wild, it is estimated that 10% of first time mothers die during labour.[7] These factors suggests that at some point there must have been powerful selective pressures driving the evolution of masculinisation.
fartash, Kathleen, rkailas, marhowie, bobair, kjpweb, Nephrotome2, pilonm has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pilonm: Hi Michelpirate 1 07-04 12:26
To rkailas: enough lightpirate 1 06-30 10:35
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hello Tom
Excellent hunting shot of these Hyenas,
Great moment to shoot,
Fantastic colors and composition,Superb shot.

Good Luck
Fartash

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2007-06-30 8:09]

Hello Tom,
Great action photo. Good sharpness, composition and focus. Beautiful natural colours.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Tom,
What strange animals they are... Your notes are much interesting as I learned many stunning things about hyena that I didn't know about. This picture is very strong by its action, composition and POV. A real documentary shot :) This is great and educational post. Thanks,
Claudine

Hi Tom.
Great behaviour shot of the Hyena's ripping into the kill. Composition to show the feeding so detailed is great, sharp where needed on the point of interest, colour and exposure spot on.

Kathleen
New Zealand

Hi Tom

Great natural history shot with superb light. I wonder, if light was good enough, if a smaller aperture might have brought the other hyena into better focus....but often we dont have that luxury while shooting wildlife!

TFS
Ravi

Hello Tom,
Graphic closeup with excellent sharpness/detail. It's a wonderful POV, you can see the hyena straining as it tears the flesh away..
I can almost hear the bones crunchin' from here ;}
Very well done.
Howard

  • Great 
  • Arjun Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 358 W: 7 N: 1237] (7593)
  • [2007-06-30 9:46]

hi tom,
a very good picture.
congrats
TFS

Hello Tom,
Too crazy wildlife shot...
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hi Tom,
this photo is really all around amazing looking.I not sure if I could like hyenas but then again not all predators are cute like foxes but the fox is as vicious as these ones so I do respect the hyenas.The note that you have included is a revelation for me with all that I didn't know,very well done.Good detail,focus and colour make this this an excellent addition to TN.Tfs. Bob

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-06-30 19:14]

Hello Tom

Wow what an amazing raw shot.The POV is super.The action in the shot is intense,you really get the sense of these guys ripping the carcass apart.The colours are well saturated.Great job.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2249 W: 65 N: 4205] (13972)
  • [2007-07-01 4:13]

Hi Tom,
Nice capture with a good timing. I liked the details :o)
TFS
Selen

Excellent (despite being a grizzly scene)! Great detail and info! Kudos! Cheers, Klaus

I miss a baculum too. :(
Very interesting extensive note.
excellent shot. very detailed . well composed.
TFS
JM

Hello Tom,

What an impressive and dramatic picture!!! Do they hunt by themselves this Zebra or did they stole it to another predator?

Excellent exposition and composition! The focus is also very sharp! Maybe with a smaller aperture you would have both hyenas in focus...

Great picture and TFS!

Michel

what an action.you can feel the strength of the hyena maxillaries!
great!
caroline

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF