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The Spotted Hyena: A Study of Predation and Social Behavior
In this seminal study, Hans Kruuk redefines the image of the spotted hyena, not as a common scavenger, but as a complex matriarchal predator with links to human evolution. The Spotted Hyena is the first study to capture the true behavior and ecology of these formidable predators, who instinctively adapt their social structure to meet their ecological needs. Kruuk's research reveals for the first time that hyenas combine carnivorous habits with group territoriality, thus drawing parallels between their existence and that of wolves, lions, and arguably early humans. In addition to being lovable rogues, spotted hyenas are sophisticated hunters that live in complex communities of up to 80 animals. Covering more than broad facts about this species, Kruuk addresses the vital questions concerning hyena behavior such as why females are dominant, why lions scavenge from hyenas, why hyenas hunt zebra and wildebeest differently, and how their social behavior correlates with ecology. Since its original publication, The Spotted Hyena has transformed the common perception of the spotted hyena. With nearly 2,000 citations in scientific literature, The Spotted Hyena has become a classic work and trailblazer for linking changes in animal behavior with the environment, in addition to its concentration on a large carnivore that shares several characteristics with select primates. Although this is a science book, Kruuk skips the jargon and complicated theory, thus making its conclusions easily accessible to any student of natural history, African predators, or social behavior within animal communities. The Spotted Hyena features exciting field notes in addition to comprehensive graphs and tables that have made it an invaluable contribution to behavioral ecology and its methodology. Hans Kruuk studied hyenas while living in the wilderness of Africa's Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater for many years. After completing his doctorate with Nobel Prize winner Niko Tinbergen at the University of Oxford, Kruuk was asked by the former Tanganyika (now Tanzania) National Parks to study predation in the Serengeti. Kruuk focused on the most important carnivore there—the spotted hyena—and co-founded the Serengeti Research Institute in Tanzania to carry out his research. Many years later in 1997, he retired emeritus from his position as Senior Principal Research Officer at the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology in Banchory, Scotland. Kruuk has carried out research projects on mammals and birds on all continents, published seven books and over 120 scientific papers. Among his awards are scientific medals from the Zoological Society of London and British Mammal Society, and secondary Doctorate of Science from the University of Aberdeen where he is also Honorary Professor.
- GenresAnimalsScienceNonfiction
388 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 3, 2021
If you've ever read anything about spotted hyenas before, you'll have more than likely come across the name Hans Kruuk.
Kruuk was a pioneer in hyena studies, as the first person to ever seriously study them. His findings were seminal: the observation that spotted hyenas are actually predators (not scavengers as they've erroneously been described as), that they live in a matriarchal society and that they're feliforms are just some of the knowledge we have Kruuk to thank for.
I think it's important that I state that I am not a biologist and I don't work with animals in any capacity, I'm just obsessed with hyenas. But, as someone who has read countless of papers on the spotted hyena, this book is a dream come true. My personal favourite part was the 'elementary social behaviour patterns'.
There are also several, lovely (black and white) photos in the book that cover everything from tail positions to mating stances.
This book is essential if you're interested in spotted hyenas, but if you're on this page, you probably already know that!
Kruuk was a pioneer in hyena studies, as the first person to ever seriously study them. His findings were seminal: the observation that spotted hyenas are actually predators (not scavengers as they've erroneously been described as), that they live in a matriarchal society and that they're feliforms are just some of the knowledge we have Kruuk to thank for.
I think it's important that I state that I am not a biologist and I don't work with animals in any capacity, I'm just obsessed with hyenas. But, as someone who has read countless of papers on the spotted hyena, this book is a dream come true. My personal favourite part was the 'elementary social behaviour patterns'.
There are also several, lovely (black and white) photos in the book that cover everything from tail positions to mating stances.
This book is essential if you're interested in spotted hyenas, but if you're on this page, you probably already know that!
February 8, 2019
Despite the fact that Kruuk was wrong or at least incomplete in a number of his conclusions, in fairness he was one of the earliest people to seriously study hyenas in any great detail. The research methods at the time were often incredibly disruptive, but either this could not be helped, or the effect of researcher interference wasn't realized.
Aside from this, Kruuk's main failings lie in the readability of the book, not in the information presented. As a research paper, it would be acceptably readable. But as a book published for the public to consume, it leaves something to be desired in several points. Not the least of which is referring to other research papers which have significance to what he is discussing, but refusal to give a brief overview of what these papers were actually about. He does clean that up in many of the later portions of the book, giving a brief overview of another study he wants to base some conclusion on, or compare. But early in the book, some of the failures to do this are quite staggering. Especially if you remember that this was published in 1972. No internet to look things up. How are you, the reader, expected to track down these research papers? Granted, he can't go into great depth on these other papers, otherwise he would lose sight of his own study, but some depth is desperately needed at a couple of points.
The thick application of numbers and figures isn't surprising, but it could be done much better. Or, in fact, not at all, as I gradually found that the figures were basically an incomprehensible rendering of what he had just used his words to say, rather than an expansion or clarification of it.
And the tie back to using animal behavior to analyze the possible evolutionary origins of primitive man or whatever is unneeded and irrelevant prattle that I could well do without. Fortunately, Kruuk gets off on this tangent only briefly at the beginning and end of the book, and seldom elsewhere.
Kruuk also waffled on his terminology a bit in a couple of contexts, at times making it difficult to follow. I'm so accustomed to hyenas being referred to as being in clans that the notion of packs was quite jarring, and I was never entirely certain if he defined a clan of hyenas and a pack of them as the same thing.
Overall, this is as thorough and detailed and impartial a study as one could possibly expect of the time and place, all things considered. And, let's be real here, there aren't that many books out there about hyenas. This is probably the most informative of them.
Aside from this, Kruuk's main failings lie in the readability of the book, not in the information presented. As a research paper, it would be acceptably readable. But as a book published for the public to consume, it leaves something to be desired in several points. Not the least of which is referring to other research papers which have significance to what he is discussing, but refusal to give a brief overview of what these papers were actually about. He does clean that up in many of the later portions of the book, giving a brief overview of another study he wants to base some conclusion on, or compare. But early in the book, some of the failures to do this are quite staggering. Especially if you remember that this was published in 1972. No internet to look things up. How are you, the reader, expected to track down these research papers? Granted, he can't go into great depth on these other papers, otherwise he would lose sight of his own study, but some depth is desperately needed at a couple of points.
The thick application of numbers and figures isn't surprising, but it could be done much better. Or, in fact, not at all, as I gradually found that the figures were basically an incomprehensible rendering of what he had just used his words to say, rather than an expansion or clarification of it.
And the tie back to using animal behavior to analyze the possible evolutionary origins of primitive man or whatever is unneeded and irrelevant prattle that I could well do without. Fortunately, Kruuk gets off on this tangent only briefly at the beginning and end of the book, and seldom elsewhere.
Kruuk also waffled on his terminology a bit in a couple of contexts, at times making it difficult to follow. I'm so accustomed to hyenas being referred to as being in clans that the notion of packs was quite jarring, and I was never entirely certain if he defined a clan of hyenas and a pack of them as the same thing.
Overall, this is as thorough and detailed and impartial a study as one could possibly expect of the time and place, all things considered. And, let's be real here, there aren't that many books out there about hyenas. This is probably the most informative of them.
April 17, 2020
This remains the gold standard for books about spotted hyenas. To be fair, there are not many out there, but Kruuk undertook the first-ever field study on spotted hyenas under extremely challenging field conditions and massively increased our understanding of the animal. A few of his conclusions have been disproven or debunked (e.g. his thoughts on the socio-spatial organization of hyenas in the Serengeti, or his exaggerated notion about how strictly territorial hyenas in the Ngorongoro Crater are), but for the most part it reads true and is a fascinating publication.
Be warned, it is very scientific and technical, which may not be everyone's cup of tea, and reads more like a long scientific article than anything else. Still, there are enough anecdotes to keep one entertained even if not a biologist. On a personal note, I did my PhD fieldwork on the Ngorongoro Crater's spotted hyena population which makes the book my favorite and a go-to "comfort read". And if you are obsessed with hyenas, this is pretty much your Bible.
Be warned, it is very scientific and technical, which may not be everyone's cup of tea, and reads more like a long scientific article than anything else. Still, there are enough anecdotes to keep one entertained even if not a biologist. On a personal note, I did my PhD fieldwork on the Ngorongoro Crater's spotted hyena population which makes the book my favorite and a go-to "comfort read". And if you are obsessed with hyenas, this is pretty much your Bible.
October 6, 2008
This was written in the style of a biology journal article, so unless you're really interested in hyenas, you probably won't enjoy it.
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February 21, 2008The influence of the hyena on our human evolution
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews