Mac OS X for Java Geeks

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The animal on the cover of Mac OS X for Java Geeks is a striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena). This nomadic species is native to the arid savanna, thorny bush, and stony deserts of northern and eastern Africa, the Middle East, India, and southern Asia. Striped hyenas have long coarse fur and are sandy-gray in color; they feature black spots on their legs, dark stripes running down their backs, and a heavy mane over their neck and shoulders. When threatened, their manes stand up, causing the hyena to appear much larger than their average weight of 100 pounds. Adults grow to nearly four feet long, not including their foot-long tails. These hyenas have pointed ears, a short muzzle, powerful jaws, and sharp teeth. While they resemble dogs both physically and socially (they sniff one another in greeting), hyenas belong to an entirely different animal family. Unlike the larger spotted hyena, striped hyenas do not “laugh”—verbal communication is in the form of short soft growls.

Striped hyenas are primarily nocturnal, preferring to sleep in caves or shaded outcroppings during the hot desert days. Small family groups may exist in these dens, but striped hyenas are not territorial; they rest and eat in the same areas for a short period of time before ...