So much for the most powerful jaws

It is well known that Spotted Hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta)  have the most powerful jaws of all land animals. I have seen them chase lions off a kill, and I have read reports of Spotted Hyaena successfully killing a bull buffalo. So I was delight

ed to capture this interaction on a camera trap in The Timbavati. The quality of the photograph is not great but you can clearly see the caution that the Hyaena shows for the Porcupine. Even a mighty carnivore respects a rat with spines! I’m sure that there is a lesson in there.