Spotted Hyena vs African Rock Python

[Supercommunist]

The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), also known as the laughing hyena or tiger wolf, is a species of hyena native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN on account of its widespread range and large numbers estimated at 10,000 individuals. The spotted hyena is the largest extant member of the Hyaenidae.[43] Adults measure 95.0—165.8 cm in body length, and have a shoulder height of 70.0-91.5 cm. Adult male spotted hyenas in the Serengeti weigh 40.5—55.0 kg (89—121 lb), while females weigh 44.5—63.9 kg (98—141 lb). Spotted hyenas in Zambia tend to be heavier, with males weighing on average 67.6 kg (149 lb), and females 69.2 kg (153 lb). Exceptionally large weights of 81.7 kg (180 lb) and 86 kg (190 lb) are known. It has been estimated that adult members of the now extinct Eurasian populations weighed 102 kg (225 lbs).

vs



Python sebae, commonly known as the African rock python, is a large, nonvenomous snake of Sub-Saharan Africa. The African rock python is one of seven species in the genus Python. It has two subspecies: one found in Central and Western Africa, the other in Southern Africa. Africa's largest snake, specimens may approach or exceed 6 m (20 ft). The southern subspecies is generally smaller than its northern relative. The animal has a pattern of colored blotches on its body. It has dual lungs and vestigial hind limbs, which show it is less advanced in evolution than other snakes. The snake is found in a variety of habitats, from forests to near deserts, although usually near sources of water. The African rock python kills its prey by constriction and often eats animals up to the size of antelope, occasionally even crocodiles. The snake reproduces by egg-laying. Unlike most snakes, the female will protect her nest and sometimes even her hatchlings. The snake is widely feared even though it only very rarely kills humans. Although the snake is not endangered, it does face threats from habitat reduction and hunting.

[Supercommunist]

While I think a python would lose to a female hyena, as the latter would have a decent size advatange against it, I think a large female rock python has a good chance of besting a male.

POKOT, KENYA: A nine feet long python snake was on Friday speared to death at Kongelai area in West Pokot County by bitter residents following fears that it could have swallowed a goat.

The villagers used poisoned arrows to kill the snake making it difficult for game rangers and police officers to handle.

A game ranger from Kapenguria Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Station, Daniel Cheboi said the office received a call regarding the incident from area OCS at around 10 am informing them that a huge snake had swallowed a goat.

“The place was not accessible by use of our four wheel drive car and we had to hire a motor bike that took us over 10 kilometers further to find a big crowd that stood waiting for us,” Cheboi said.

He said the frightful residents were standing far from the place where the snake lay but the team of rangers walked through the mixed shrub and forested area at the banks of the Suam River on the way to Kacheliba.

Mr. Cheboi disclosed that the rangers found the nine feet long snake already dead with its head chopped off by the residents.

Ironically, he noted, the snake had vomited a big hyena equivalent to the size of a medium sized goat contrary to the expectations of the residents who thought it had swallowed a goat.

Cheboi said the rangers, who were trained in snake handling, were sad about the incident since it was an ecosystem cycle yet the residents had killed the reptile.

The dead python was then ferried to the KWS regional headquarters in Kapenguria for its skin to be extracted and forwarded to the headquarters in Nairobi.

Cheboi advised communities to be cautious when dealing with wildlife since they were dangerous in not handled in a suitable manner and to report to the KWS rather than conflict with them.

www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000088383

[theropod]

I think the hyaena will usually win due to it's robusticity and bite (since it could end the fight with one well placed one), but very large phytons would have the strenght and durability to pull this off.

[Deleted]

While African Rock Pythons are tough and can grow pretty large, I think the hyena would win. They are very durable (though the python is, I don't think a python would survive a beating from a lion) and have extremely powerful jaws. I'm just not sure how the python can wrap around the hyena before it gets bitten badly by the hyena. Now if it was a Reticulated Python, I would favor it over the hyena, but here the hyena wins 70/30. A large python can win though.

[theropod]

How quickly can such a python get in a bite and coild around a large animal?
I think this is one of the most important points for giant snake matchups, and it depends largely on this whether or not the Hyaena can kill the serpent before it is in its deathgrip (by a precise bite to the spine or skull), or whether all it might catch might be thick, tough parts it cannot effectively apply a quick killing bite to.

[Vodmeister]

One bite and the snake is finished.

[Supercommunist]

One bite and the snake is finished.

Not true. Read the account I posted.

[Runic]

Sept 16, 2013 1:32:48 GMT 5 Supercommunist said:

One bite and the snake is finished.

Not true. Read the account I posted.

Where does everyone get this one bite = dead logic from?

[221extra]

Sept 16, 2013 2:09:13 GMT 5 Runic said:

Sept 16, 2013 1:32:48 GMT 5 Supercommunist said:

Not true. Read the account I posted.

Where does everyone get this one bite = dead logic from?

Well constrictors have been killed with one well placed bite to there fragile skulls before:

At Chitabe, en route to camp from the airfield we saw a female leopard feeding on a huge python of well over five metres. After three days the leopard abandoned the now rotting carcass. On inspecting the python's skull we found distinct bite marks answering our question of the leopard had indeed killed the python herself. Just goes to show that they are indeed opportunistic predators. The following morning, whilst watching two male lion, we were called by another safari vehicle for a sighting of mating leopards.
www.eyesonafrica.net/updates/2011/upd_mar11-1.htm

Tho, I don't see that likely here given the Hyena's messy killing style.

[Runic]

Sept 16, 2013 11:23:11 GMT 5 221extra said:

Sept 16, 2013 2:09:13 GMT 5 Runic said:

Where does everyone get this one bite = dead logic from?

Well constrictors have been killed with one well placed bite to there fragile skulls before:

At Chitabe, en route to camp from the airfield we saw a female leopard feeding on a huge python of well over five metres. After three days the leopard abandoned the now rotting carcass. On inspecting the python's skull we found distinct bite marks answering our question of the leopard had indeed killed the python herself. Just goes to show that they are indeed opportunistic predators. The following morning, whilst watching two male lion, we were called by another safari vehicle for a sighting of mating leopards.
www.eyesonafrica.net/updates/2011/upd_mar11-1.htm

Tho, I don't see that likely here given the Hyena's messy killing style.

Ohh I see now. But I don't see how a hyena would fare any better than a wolf tbh (I say this because of the replies on CF).

[221extra]

I believe a Hyena might fare a bit worse, it's not quite as agile as a Wolf & both really doesn't have anything to counter the Python's coils (i.e grappling limbs) tho it will certainly be tough & take a large Python IMO to kill a Hyena (due to the Hyena's robust forebody) , the Hyena will have to make it's bite or bites count or else it wont end well. Tho I do see the average Python losing, a Hyena is a bit too tough.

[Reticulatus]

I think the "one bite=dead" logic works but it goes both ways. A well place bite by the hyena could be devastating, equally if the python lands a bite first, which I believe would happen more often, the hyena is as good as constricted. Constrictors can get their bodies wrapped around a victim with in a few seconds of securing an anchoring bite.

[Venomous Dragon]

I fail to see how the hyenas durability is even remotely helpful against constriction.
Its also very inflexible and physically weaker, once its caught its simply dead, its only hope to to do enough damage before being caught.

[Vodmeister]

Hyenas aren't terribly agile on land, but they are certainly faster than a sluggish Python - and more importantly, they have significantly greater stamina.

[Reticulatus]

Snakes aren't likely to go chasing an enemy around anyways. The python would hold its ground and choose the proper moment to strike. The snake would coil its body, leave its neck and head perched atop the coils allowing it pivot 360 degrees. This position is highly defendable and leaves the hyena with little room for error. It's when and if the constrictor chooses to retreat that its really in trouble and vulnerable to attack. Pythons aren't as "sluggish" as some may believe.