I would like any information on the spotted hyena's sense of smell,
sight, hearing, taste, use of whiskers, and the the Flehmen response
(tasting-scents by passing air over the Jacobson's organ).  Most hyena
sites I have been to have wonderful info on all other aspects of
hyena-ness, but not on this topic.  Thanks.

wolfenheart-ga,

Here I will present you with some information on the sensory
capabilities of the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), with emphasis on
olfactory and vomeronasal senses.

First, the basics: Hyenas have keen senses of sight, hearing and
smell. The are neither felines nor canines, but are more closely
related to the former. they are primarily nocturnal (meaning they are
active at night).

The following is a fine general summation of the spotted hyena, from a
U. of Michigan Museum of Zoology page:

[ http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/crocuta/c._crocuta$narrative.html
].

This link also provides solid general information on the hyena (from
"Walker's Mammals of the World Online"):

[ http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walker/carnivora.hyaenidae.crocuta.html
].



Regarding vision, "Hyenas also have powerful eyesight with light
enhancement capabilities, which help the hyena see when light is low. 
Their eyes function best in situations of low light; in the daytime
their vision quality is reduced." This quote comes from the following
website:

[ http://hyena.g2gm.com/guide.html ] .

As far as hearing goes, "Hearing is also a powerful sense; hyenas have
rounded mobile ears that trap and funnel sound waves so that they can
hear them.  They can also hear sounds from the extreme frequencies."
This quote is also excerpted from:

[ http://hyena.g2gm.com/guide.html ].

Concerning taste, I could find no definitive studies on taste alone,
but there are numerous references to the Jacobsen's organ enhancing
taste.

Regarding the Jacobsen's organ (or vomeronasal organ), the following
link takes you to a good biological treatment of the vomeronasal organ
in general (from the National Library of Medicine's website):

[ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?holding=npg&cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10531049&dopt=Abstract
]

The following search strategies will allow you to continue your quest
for further information:

Google search strategy:
Keywords:
"spotted hyena sensory organs":
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=spotted+hyena+sensory+organs&btnG=Google+Search
],

"spotted hyena senses":
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=spotted+hyena+senses&btnG=Google+Search
],

"vomeronasal organ":
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=vomeronasal+organ&btnG=Google+Search
],

"spotted hyena biology":
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=spotted+hyena+biology&spell=1
],

"Crocuta crocuta anatomy":
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=Crocuta+crocuta+anatomy
],

"://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=Crocuta+crocuta++&btnG=Google+Search":

"Crocuta crocuta":
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=Crocuta+crocuta++&btnG=Google+Search
],

"Jacobsen's organ hyena":
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=Crocuta+crocuta++&btnG=Google+Search
],

and finally,

"Jacobsen's organ":
[ ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=Jacobsen%27s+organ++&btnG=Google+Search
].

This should cover the basics and lead you to more advanced resources.
Good luck in continuing your inquiries!

omniscientbeing-ga

Thanks for finding these great sites on hyenas.  This really helps me
out and is very informative.