Bathing behaviour in spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) in Laikipia, Kenya: Two observational cases

Abstract

Homeothermic animals have regulatory mechanisms to maintain a constant body temperature in response to harsh climatic conditions. In low latitude areas near the equator, animals have adapted a coat to avoid strong UV rays, but a thick coat interferes with heat dissipation due to high daytime temperatures. Therefore, animals spend hot hours in cool shade or dens as the most common method to avoid overheating Alternatively, some animals cool themselves by bathing with sand, mud or water. Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are medium-sized carnivorous animals weighing about 45–70 kg, and aredouble coated. Bathing is a well-known behaviour in spotted hyenas, but it is not clear from natural historical descriptions whether their bathing is a heat-resistant behaviour. Here we report on two bathing observation cases of hyena and describe them with reference to the heat resistance function of bathing based on the time and temperature at which observations occurred. A wild hyena of a four-headed clan inhabiting Laikipia, Kenya bathed in a pool at around 18:00 h and 9:00 h in the dry season. The temperature at 18:00 h showed largest difference from the highest annual mean temperature. The bathing at 9:00 h in the morning was the time when the temperature began to rise. These observations suggest that hyena bathing may be a heat-avoiding behaviour. Bathing also has other functions such as parasite extermination, play and ambush hunting, hence more observations are needed in the future.