Hyena

There are four extant species of hyenas:

Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)

The largest and most well known member of the hyena family, the spotted hyena is primarily a predator, not a scavenger as is commonly through. They have been clocked at over 35 mph, and when hunting in packs are capable of taking down the largest of prey.

Spotted Hyenas live in the savannahs and deserts of Africa, in clan's numbering 40 individuals on average - and as large as 100. While spotted hyenas have no real predators (besides man), they are on occasion killed by lions (which detest hyenas).

Bonus Fact: Spotted Hyena's have such strong jaws and teeth that they devour even the bones of their kill. This, combined with their very strong stomach acid, results in them having crusty white droppings (from all the bone meal).

Super Bonus Fact: Female spotted hyenas are much larger than their male counterparts, and have long, dangling, penis-like clitorises (jealous?).

Brown Hyena (Hyaena brunnea)

The brown hyena lives mainly in the Kalahari and Namib deserts of southern Africa. They are smaller than their spotted cousins, and unlike them they are largely scavengers. They are, in fact, (I believe) the largest land animal which makes up the majority of its diet from scavenging. Because of the scarcity of food in the desert, they supplement their diet with fruit and vegetables.

Also unlike the spotted hyena, the males and females of this species are practically indistinguishable. Their clans are also smaller, ranging between 4 to 15 members. Besides man, brown hyenas are commonly killed by lions and spotted hyenas.

Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena)

Striped hyenas are closely related to brown hyenas, but live in northern Africa, the Middle East, and western India. Like their brown cousins, striped hyenas are largely scavengers, and will also eat fruit and even insects.

Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus)

The aardwolf is a small hyena that feeds exclusively on termites. It has become so specialized for this diet that its teeth have shrunken to near insignificance. Unlike other large insect eating mammals like aardvarks and anteaters, aardwolves can't dig, and so have to wait outside the termite mound to lick up the termites when they come out.

Bonus Fact: An aardwolf can lick up over 30 000 termites in a single night! (in Aardwolf, adoxograph says they can eat up to 200 000, but that's not what my sources say).

Hyenas are not, as is commonly thought, closely related to dogs (they're more closely related to cats). Their closest living cousins are the Herpestidae, such as mongooses and meerkats. In ancient times large hyenas ranged over much of Europe and Asia.

Hy*e"na (?), n.; pl. Hyenas (#). [L. hyaena, Gr. , orig., a sow, but usually, a Libyan wild beast, prob., the hyena, fr. hog: cf. F. hyene. See Sow female hog.] Zool.

Any carnivorous mammal of the family Hyaenidae, of which three living species are known. They are large and strong, but cowardly. They feed chiefly on carrion, and are nocturnal in their habits.

⇒ The striped hyena (Hyaena striata) inhabits Southern Asia and a large part of Africa. The brown hyena (H. brunnea), and the spotted hyena (Crocuta maculata), are found in Southern Africa. The extinct cave hyena (H. spelaea) inhabited England and France.

Cave hyena. See under Cave. -- Hyena dog Zool., a South African canine animal (Lycaon venaticus), which hunts in packs, chiefly at night. It is smaller than the common wolf, with very large, erect ears, and a bushy tail. Its color is reddish or yellowish brown, blotched with black and white. Called also hunting dog.

© Webster 1913.