Hyaenas

hyaenidae

Hyaenas are fascinating and highly intelligent carnivores belonging to the family Hyaenidae. Despite their dog-like appearance, they are evolutionarily closer to cats, civets, and mongooses within the mammalian suborder Feliformia. Comprising four extant species—the spotted, striped, and brown hyenas, along with the specialized, insectivorous aardwolf—this diverse family occupies a critical role in their respective ecosystems. They are renowned for their incredible bone-crushing bite force, highly organized social structures, and complex vocalizations, including the famous "laugh" of the spotted hyena. While historically misunderstood as mere scavengers, many hyena species are actually highly successful and formidable apex predators capable of taking down large prey. Their unique adaptations, robust build, and complex matriarchal societies (particularly in the spotted hyena) make them one of the most captivating groups of mammals in Africa and parts of Asia.

Habitat: Hyaenas are highly adaptable and can be found across a diverse range of habitats including savannas, grasslands, semi-deserts, open woodlands, and mountainous regions.

Appearance

Hyenas possess a distinctive, sloping profile due to their heavily built forequarters and comparatively lower, less developed hindquarters. They have broad heads, powerful jaws, and large, rounded or pointed ears. Their coats vary significantly by species: the spotted hyena features a yellowish-gray coat patterned with dark spots; the striped hyena is adorned with vertical black stripes over pale grey or beige fur and a prominent dorsal mane; the brown hyena has a dark brown, shaggy coat with striped legs; and the smaller aardwolf sports a yellowish coat with distinct black stripes. Sizes range from the small, slender aardwolf, which weighs around 10 kg, to the robust spotted hyena, which can weigh over 80 kg.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderCarnivora

Hyaenas

Interesting facts

Despite looking very much like dogs, hyenas are evolutionarily much closer to cats and mongooses in the suborder Feliformia.

Female spotted hyenas are significantly larger and more dominant than males, leading highly complex matriarchal societies called clans.

Hyenas have extremely strong stomach acids, allowing them to fully digest animal parts most other predators leave behind, including skin, hooves, and bone.

The aardwolf, a small and often forgotten member of the hyena family, possesses highly reduced teeth because it eats almost entirely termites.

Special abilities

Possessing exceptionally robust teeth and massive jaw muscles, most hyenas can crack open large bones to extract highly nutritious marrow that other predators cannot access.

They have a highly efficient, loping gait that allows them to trot effortlessly for hours, enabling them to pursue prey or patrol vast territories over long distances without overheating.

Spotted hyenas in particular utilize a highly sophisticated repertoire of vocalizations, postures, and scent-marking, including 'whoops' and 'laughs', to convey identity, rank, and intent to their clan members.

Measurements & details

Length: 85-165 cm
Weight: 8-86 kg
Lifespan: 10-25 years
Top Speed: 60 km/h
Clutch Size: 1-5
Incubation: 90-110 days

Diet & Feeding

While the aardwolf specializes in eating termites, the other three hyena species consume a mix of scavenged carrion and freshly hunted vertebrates, including medium to large ungulates.

Age differences: Pups rely on their mother's highly nutritious milk for up to 18 months, gradually integrating solid meat brought back to the den.

Primary Foods

Carrion
Antelope
Wildebeest
Zebra
Termites

Foraging Method

Pursuit And Foraging

Ecological connections

competitor

Lion

Panthera leo

Lions and hyenas frequently steal kills from one another and engage in intense, often fatal, territorial clashes.

hunts

Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

Spotted hyenas are highly successful pack hunters that frequently prey on wildebeest.

hunts

Snouted Termite

Trinervitermes trinervoides

The aardwolf relies almost exclusively on these specific termites, consuming up to 300,000 in a single night.

competitor

White-backed Vulture

Gyps africanus

Vultures and hyenas both flock to fresh carcasses, competing for access to the carrion.

Traits

No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.

Also known as

Hyaena hyaenastriped hyena

Collections

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Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Hyaenas?

The easiest way to identify Hyaenas is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How long is Hyaenas?

85-165 cm

How much does Hyaenas weigh?

8-86 kg

How long does Hyaenas live?

10-25 years

How fast can Hyaenas move?

60 km/h

What does Hyaenas eat?

While the aardwolf specializes in eating termites, the other three hyena species consume a mix of scavenged carrion and freshly hunted vertebrates, including medium to large ungulates.

Where is Hyaenas usually found?

Hyaenas are highly adaptable and can be found across a diverse range of habitats including savannas, grasslands, semi-deserts, open woodlands, and mountainous regions.

How does Hyaenas hunt?

Pursuit And Foraging