Spotted hyenas now live only in Africa in savannahs and deserts, but during the Ice Ages a giant-sized version roamed Europe and Asia and left bones in caves.Spotted hyena cubs are born almost black. It’s a few months before they take on the adult coloration.The litters are small compared to most other carnivores — usually one or two.Spotted hyenas run down their prey like wolves. They rarely stalk it or set up ambushes like lions. But, like most carnivores, they’re flexible: they can adapt their hunting techniques to the prey and the situation, and can pass on what they’ve learned to their young. Read the rest of this entry »