Hyaena

Hyaenas
Crocuta crocuta, the Spotted Hyena
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Suborder:	Feliformia
Family:	Hyaenidae Gray, 1821
Living Genera
Crocuta Hyaena Proteles

Hyaenas (sometimes 'Hyena') are mammals. They are the family Hyaenidae, in the order Carnivora. They live in Africa, and in west and south Asia. In the past they had a much wider distribution. Now there are two subfamilies with four species.

Appearance and Biology

Although Hyaenas look much like canids, they are actually in the suborder Feliformia, the same as cats and mongoose. Hyaena walk much like bears because their front legs are longer than their back. The Brown and Striped Hyaena have striped fur with a mane covering their neck. The Spotted Hyaena's fur is shorter and spotted, instead of striped. The Spotted Hyaena's mane is reversed forward, instead of back, like the other species. Hyaenas are known to have one of the world's strongest bites. Its function is to crush bone.

Grouping and Society

Hyenas, particularly Spotted Hyenas, are intelligent creatures. They work together very well and are very cooperative. They have very strategic hunting methods and work to steal and protect it from other predators. Hyenas main targets are Zebras and Wildebeests. Their main rival is the Lion. If a lioness is eating a kill, a group of three Hyenas can take her down but they can not take down a male lion.

Taxonomy

• Family Hyaenidae
  • Subfamily Hyaeninae
    • Spotted Hyaena (Crocuta crocuta)
    • Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena)
    • Brown Hyaena, (Hyaena brunnea, formerly Parahyaena brunnea)
  • Subfamily Protelinae
    • Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus)

Gallery

• 

  a Spotted Hyaena

• 

  a Striped Hyaena

• 

  a Brown Hyaena

• 

  an Aardwolf