The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) has lived in Europe and central Asia together with the woolly mammoth. Where in Europe and central Asia has this hyena lived in Europe and central Asia? How far north, and in what kind of a climate? When has it lived there? What have scientists found out about this?
Professor Erich Thenius, Paleontological Institute at the University of Vienna, Austria, reports: "Spotted- (Crocuta crocuta spelaea) and striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena prisca) were still common in Europe during the late Pleistocene... H. hyaena disappears during, and Crocuta crocuta spelaea at the end of the late Pleistocene." (1980:191, 254).
Professor N. K. Vereshchagin and G. F. Baryshnikov, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg, found out: "Pliocene and Quaternary deposits in the Old World have produced remains of various species of hyaenas belonging to two basic phylogenetic branches, represented today by the genera Crocuta and Hyaena. Representatives of both genera occurred in the Pleistocene of Europe. The striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena L.) disappeared in Europe sometime during the Pleistocene, while the cave hyaena survived to the end of it (Thenius 1980)." (1989:496).
Hyaena hyaena, the striped hyena, has also lived during the late Pleistocene (Würm-Wisconsin) in Central Asia, south of Samarkand, near 39°N, 68°E. – Vereshchagin and Baryshnikov (1989:488) Table 22:1.
What kind of a climate is there now in Central Asia, south of Samarkand, near 39°N, 68°E? And what kind of a climate is there supposed to have been during the late Pleistocene (Würm), when the striped hyena was living there? Could the striped hyena then have lived there?
The mean air temperature of the coldest month (January or February) south of Samarkand is now 0°C. During the Last Glaciation it is supposed to have been there 12°C colder than now (Frenzel, B. 1992). The mean air temperature of the coldest month south of Samarkand would have been then –12°C.
The mean annual air temperature south of Samarkand, in Central Asia, where the striped hyena has lived during the late Pleistocene, is now around 12°C. During the Last Glaciation it was supposed to have been 9°C colder than now (Frenzel, B. 1992). The mean annual air temperature would have been then 3°C. It lay then in the area of deep seasonal freezing, at the boundary of discontinuous and sporadic permafrost.
K. Markova, Geographical Institute in Moscow, remarks about the "Late Pleistocene Mammal Fauna of the Russian Plain", (1984:209) Table 20-1: Hyaena spelaea Goldf., striped hyena: has lived on the Russian Plain during the Early and Middle Valdai Glaciation: In the Prut and Dnestr River basins, up to about 49°N. the bones have a carbon-14 date of 40 300 and 44 000 yrs B.P. Its remains have also been recovered in the Dnepr River Basin, near 47-49°N, and in the Don and Severskiy River Basin, up to 49°N. The remains of the striped hyaena have also been found, according to A. K. Markova, at Vykhvatitsy, Buteshty, and Korman IV, near 49°N, and at Moldova, Kodak, Grigor’yevka, Shubnoye, and Krasnyy Yar, up to 49°N.
What kind of a climate does the Russian Plain near 49°N, 30-40°E have: now and during the Early and Middle Valdai Glaciation? – The coldest month is there now –10°C. During the Early and Middle Valdai Glaciation it was supposed to have been then 16°C colder than now. Thus, the mean air temperature of the coldest month during the Early and Middle Valdai Glaciation on the Russian Plain must have been then –26°C.
The mean annual air temperature of the Russian Plain near 49°N, 30-40°E, is now 7°C. During the glaciations it is supposed to have been 12°C colder than now. Hence, the mean annual air temperature would have been there then –5°C, with discontinuous and sporadic permafrost.
The Recent Striped Hyena
Where is the striped hyena living now? How far north, and in what kind of a climate? Could this animal have lived during the Last Ice Age in ice and snow, in a severe arctic climate, as we find it now in northeastern Siberia? How does it live now? What does it eat?
Map: Original range of the striped hyena, Hyaena hyaena, the solid line. From: V. G. Heptner (1980:22) Fig. 2. – Striped hyena, Hyaena hyaena. From: Th. Haltenorth and H. Diller, Die Säugetiere Afrikas (1977) Plate 38.3. The cold in winter determines, how far north the striped hyena is able to live.
Professor V. G. Heptner and N. P. Naumov report about the striped hyena, living now in the southernmost part of the former Soviet Union: "... most of the hyenas are living in areas, where there are many hoofed animals. ... Striped hyena: shoulder height of the male 75 cm, of the female 65 cm. The male weighs about 38.5 kg, and the female about 45 kg (India). Ear length of the male 15.0-16.5 cm, those of the female 13.7-15.8 cm" (1980:19, 26).
"Geographical distribution: Open country, mainly dry areas of India, the Middle East, and Africa, without its southern half. ... The original area in the USSR contains the southernmost part of the country in the Caucasus and in Central Asia. It consists of two different areas – the Caucasian and the Central Asian one. South of the USSR they are connected with each other. The range in the USSR is the northern-most edge of the range of this kind.
"In Turkmenia, during the last 40 and 50 years, the population of the hyenas and the changes of its density, do depend on the density of the hoofed animals (= how many are living there), mainly the wild sheep and the goiter-gazelle, and also upon the wolf, who is killing these animals. The disappearing of the goiter-gazelle and the reduction of the numbers of the wild sheep during the last decades, do also determine the fate of Hyaena hyaena." (1980:28, 33).
"Thus, Hyaena hyaena in the Soviet Union is living everywhere mainly in the foot-hills, the ephemere-loam-deserts of the southern type, and the mountain steppes, if there are also steep cliffs, and if there are many dried-out river-beds, canyons, steep slopes, and caves, where it can hide. It is able to live, where it will find enough to eat – carcasses, fresh bones and living animals, wild and tame hoofed animals, and also desert-tortoises, and other ones."
Not adapted to the cold
How well is the striped hyena adapted to deep cold? Is it able to live in the Far North, just like the wolf and the polar bear of today?
Prof. V. G. Heptner et al.: "With its poor hair-coat, consisting of guard-hair, standing far apart, and its not very dense under-hair, and its large, nearly naked external ears, the hyena is adapted to low air temperatures only poorly. It is not able to withstand frosts below –15 to –20°C. Thus, it is only found south of the January isotherm of 1°C. It does not go up high into the mountains, and is only living in areas, were there are 230-270 days during the year without frost.
"In the Soviet Union we do find especially, according to the length of the frost-free period and the sum of positive temperatures: the plains and the foot-hills of Transcaucasia, the Atrek-basin, the foot-hills of the Kopet-Dag, the valley of Dedshen and Murgab, the upper part of the Amu-Darya-Valley, and the lower course of the Pjandsh, Wachsh, and several other rivers (FREJKIN 1954 and so on). The area in our country is embedded into these territories, and is hardly going beyond these limits. Only at the western coast of the Caspian Sea, where the climate is mild, the hyena has moved a little further north.
"It is not found in the northern half of the Karakum-Desert and at the middle and lower course of the Amu-Darya, probably, because there are strong frosts, and because the frost-free period is too short. In the northern part of the Karakum-Desert already in November there is frost with –20°C. And in January the temperature may sink down to –25°C, and at times, even down to –33°C. The mean temperature in January is –2°C. The coldest it is in the Amu-Darya-Delta, where in Nukus the mean January temperature is –5.4°C. Near Termes, where the (striped) hyena is living, it is 1.6°C. And in the southernmost part of Turkmenia it is even rising up to 4.7°C. Wherever the hyena is living, the lack of a steady snow-cover is characteristic." - Heptner, V. G. et al. (1980:36).
Original range of the striped hyena in the former Soviet Union (stippled area). From: V. G. Heptner (1980:28) Fig. 6.
Food
What does the striped hyena eat? Does it also kill larger animals?
Prof. V. G. Heptner et al.: "In Transcaucasia, it is not eating only carcasses, but is also killing dogs, sheep, and other small domestic animals. ... In summer it is also eating locusts and small creeping animals. ... In Iraq, cases are known, where this robber has also attacked horses and donkeys, and is also living there on tortoises. In India, the hyena is mainly living on carcasses of animals, which have died from diseases, and of those, killed by other carnivores. But it also attacks dogs, sheep, goats, and calves. ... In zoological gardens, the hyena gets daily 3 kg of meat with bones.
"During the day, the hyenas are staying in caves, niches, and burrows, hiding from their enemies and in winter also from the cold. ... The hyena is active mainly at night. It is leaving its cave only, when it has become completely dark. And usually it is returning to its hide-away long before the sun is rising. During the day one is meeting it very rarely. Since the hyenas are living mainly on the remains of animals, killed by other carnivores, they are following them and are often staying near them, like in the south of Turkmenia. Here, one usually finds them, where many wolves are living.
"How the hyena is hunting here living animals, we do not know. In other countries it is usually hunting in packs or in families of 5-6 individuals. It is quite a fast and enduring runner. When it has overtaken its prey, it will grab it at the flank, in the area of the groin, ripping it open. The intestines are then coming out, causing the chased animal to fall down. Striped hyenas are living in pairs, more rarely alone or in smaller family packs, consisting of 5-6 individuals. They are also living in pairs in one cave. In Africa, they are following, together with other carnivores, the lions, gepards, and hyena-dogs, the herds of migrating hoofed animals, attacking the sick and weakened animals, and eating the carcasses of those, that have died." - Heptner, V. G. et al. (1980:46).
"The hyenas are often staying with the tiger, leopard, and gepard, since they are eating those parts of the prey, which they have left behind, especially the bones. While the wolves, like the hyenas, are crunching and eating most of the bones, the large cats do not touch them. During rough winters, with much snow, when many of the wild and domesticated hoofed animals are dying from hunger, the warmth-loving hyenas, not adapted to a deep snow-cover, are also perishing." - Heptner, V. G. et al. (1980:48).
Grzimeks Enzyklopädie, volume 3 (1988:569) says about the striped hyena: "The representatives of the North African, Indian, and central Asian subspecies might have a body weight of up to 50 kilogram, while the East African and Arabian striped hyena, with about 25 kg body weight, belongs to the smaller forms. ... In East Africa, the hyena-researcher Hans Kruuk found that the striped hyena is covering in one night between 7 and 47 kilometer. They are eating then fruits, also melons and dates, carcasses, insects, reptiles and so on. ... Especially important to them is the area, where they have their caves. The hyena’s cave one recognizes by the pieces of bones, lying around near the burrow. Striped hyenas in the zoo are eating five times per week two to three kilogram of meat and bones."
In German Zoo
Is the striped and the spotted hyena able to live outside all the time in winter, just like the timber wolf and the polar bear? Or do they have to warm up then for some time in a heated room? - The Zoological Garden Berlin-Friedrichswalde, Germany, is keeping striped and spotted hyenas. So I wrote to them and asked them.
Biologist C. Pohle explained to me in his letter of 27 June 1995: "Neither the striped hyena (Hyaena), nor the spotted hyena (Crocuta), contrary to the timber wolf and the polar bear, does come from areas, where they are confronted with longer periods of frost. They should also not be exposed to them. But both kinds of hyenas are quite resistant. Also in winter, when there is frost and snow, they are usually staying outside. But during the largest part of the day, they are staying then inside, in their heated cages."
Striped Hyena: Its Northern Range
In which climate is the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) living now at the northern limit of its range? Does it prove that this animal could have lived during the Ice Age in a severe arctic climate?
West of Caspian Sea: At the northern limit of the range of the striped hyena, west of the Caspian Sea, the coldest month is 0°C. There are 60 days below 0°C per year, and 20-80 days with a snow-cover. Potential evapotranspiration is 1500 mm per year. And the temperature sum with days above 10°C is 3000°. And the mean annual air temperature 14-16°C.
Turkey: In Turkey, at the northern limit of the range of the striped hyena, there are 180-240 days without frost. Potential evapotranspiration is 1250-1500 mm per year. Mean annual air temperature 16°C. SE Turkey/N Iraq, mean air temperature of coldest month 0°C.
East of Caspian Sea: At the northern limit of the range of the striped hyena east of the Caspian Sea, up to 38°N, there are 200-225 days without frost per year. And south of Lake Aral, 180-220 days without frost per year. The mean air temperature of the coldest month is 0°C. There are 20 days with a snow-cover per year. Days below 0°C = 60 days. Potential evapotranspiration 1500 mm per year. Temperature sum with days above 10°C = 5000°C per year. Mean annual air temperature 17°C.
The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) in the southwestern-most part of the former Soviet Union. After: V. G. Heptner et al. (1980:23) Fig. 3. The large ears of the striped hyena are nearly naked. Its hair-coat is rather poor. The guard-hairs are standing far apart. And the under-hair is quite thin. The striped hyena is not able to withstand frost below –15 to –20°C. Hence, it is only found south of the January isotherm of 1°C. It is only living, where there are 230-270 days during the year without frost.
Near Termest, in Usbekistan, at the border of Afhanistan, near 37°N, the striped hyena is also living. The mean January temperature there is 1.6°C. And in the southern-most part of Turkmenia, the January isotherm is rising to 4.6°C. Wherever the striped hyena is living, the lack of a steady snow-cover is characteristic (V. G. Heptner, 1980:36). This clearly shows us, in what kind of a climate the striped hyena has lived during the late Pleistocene in West-, Central-, and East Europe, together with the woolly mammoth: It was mild, temperate, not arctic at all.
Result
During the late Pleistocene, the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) has lived also in West-, Central-, and East-Europe, together with the woolly mammoth. It has lived there in a mild, temperate climate. The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) it not adapted to an arctic climate. The large ears of the striped hyena are nearly naked. Its hair-coat is rather poor. Its guard hairs are standing far apart. And its under-hair is quite thin. The striped hyena is not able to withstand frosts below –15 to –20°C.
Hence, it is only found south of the January isotherm of 1°C. It is only living, where there are 230-270 days during the year without any frost. Wherever the striped hyena is living, the lack of a steady snow-cover is characteristic (V. G. Heptner, 1980:36). In the Zoological Garden of Berlin-Friedrichsfelde, Germany, the striped hyena is staying in winter most of the time in its heated cage.