FaunaHub

Hyena

MammalCarnivoreWild

A spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) standing on the savanna.

Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta).

Image: Ikiwaner, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Hyenas are carnivorous mammals of Africa and parts of Asia, making up the family Hyaenidae with four living species: the spotted, brown, and striped hyenas, and the insect-eating aardwolf. This page is a group-level overview; the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is used as a reference. Often misrepresented in popular culture, hyenas are intelligent, socially complex, and ecologically important animals.

Habitat & Range

Hyenas occupy a range of habitats — savanna, grassland, woodland, scrub, and semi-desert — across much of Africa, with the striped hyena also ranging into the Middle East and South Asia. The spotted hyena is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa. Habitat and range vary by species, and the four hyenas differ considerably in ecology.

Diet

Spotted hyenas are capable hunters as well as scavengers, taking a wide range of prey and also feeding on carcasses; striped and brown hyenas are more scavenging-oriented, and the aardwolf specialises in termites. By consuming carcasses, hyenas help recycle nutrients and clean the landscape. This page describes general feeding ecology, not care or handling.

Behavior

Spotted hyenas are highly social, living in large groups called clans with complex hierarchies typically led by females, and communicating with a famous range of calls including the "laughing" sound. Other hyena species are more solitary or live in smaller groups. As powerful wild carnivores, hyenas should be observed only from a safe distance and with guides. Social structure and behaviour vary by species.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Hyenas are wild carnivores, not pets, and despite their unfair reputation in folklore they play a valuable ecological role as predators and scavengers. Some hyena populations face pressure from habitat loss and conflict with people, while others are more secure; conservation status varies by species and should be checked against current sources. This page is educational and ecological, not care or safety advice, and avoids villain framing.

Appearance & Recognition

Hyenas have a distinctive build with a sloping back — forequarters higher than the hindquarters — a large head and powerful jaws, and rounded or pointed ears depending on the species. The spotted hyena is sandy with dark spots; the striped hyena has vertical stripes and a mane; the brown hyena has a long, shaggy coat. This sloping silhouette and strong head are characteristic of the family.

Similar Animals

Despite a dog-like look, hyenas are not canids; they form their own family (Hyaenidae) and are more closely related to cats, mongooses, and civets. Among FaunaHub profiles, the meerkat is a distant relative within the broader cat-like carnivoran group, while wolves and foxes (canids) are not close kin.

More photos of the hyena

A spotted hyena in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

A spotted hyena in the wild, Kruger National Park.

Image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Hyena

Are hyenas dogs?
No. Although hyenas look somewhat dog-like, they are not canids. They belong to their own family, Hyaenidae, and are more closely related to cats, mongooses, and civets than to dogs and wolves.
Do hyenas only scavenge?
Not at all — this is a common misconception, at least for the spotted hyena, which is a capable hunter as well as a scavenger. Other hyena species lean more toward scavenging, and the aardwolf eats termites. Feeding strategy varies by species.
Why do hyenas "laugh"?
The spotted hyena's famous laughing sound is one of a wide range of vocalisations used in communication, often linked to social interactions and excitement rather than amusement. It reflects their complex social lives, not the villainous image from popular culture.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.