Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
Quick answer
The spotted hyena is a powerful, highly social carnivore of sub-Saharan Africa, known for its bone-crushing jaws and eerie, laugh-like calls. It lives in large matriarchal groups called clans, led by dominant females, and is both a skilled cooperative hunter and an opportunistic scavenger. Despite its dog-like look, the hyena is more closely related to cats and mongooses. Wild spotted hyenas typically live around 12 years.
Spotted Hyena facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Crocuta crocuta |
|---|---|
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Habitat | Savanna, grassland, and semi-desert |
| Lifespan | About 12 years in the wild |
| Weight | 40–86 kg (88–190 lb) |
| Top speed | Up to 60 km/h (37 mph) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Hyaenidae |
| Genus | Crocuta |
Diet and hunting
Spotted hyenas are formidable carnivores that hunt the majority of their own food, working together to chase down prey such as wildebeest, zebra, and antelope. They are also expert scavengers and have the strongest jaws relative to size of any mammal, able to crush and digest bone. Their digestive system extracts nutrients from parts other predators leave behind, wasting almost nothing of a carcass. A clan will defend its kills against lions, with which it has a fierce rivalry.
Habitat and range
The spotted hyena is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, inhabiting savannas, grasslands, open woodlands, and semi-deserts. It avoids only dense rainforest and the most extreme deserts. Clans hold and defend territories, marking boundaries with scent and communal latrines. Their adaptability and varied diet have helped them remain common across much of the continent.
Reproduction and conservation
Female spotted hyenas usually give birth to one or two cubs in a communal den, and cubs nurse for an unusually long time. Social rank strongly affects survival, as cubs of high-ranking females get better access to food. The species is listed as Least Concern, but it faces persecution, habitat loss, and conflict with herders in some areas. Healthy hyena populations play an important role in keeping ecosystems clean and balanced.
Frequently asked questions about the Spotted Hyena
Are hyenas dogs or cats?
Neither exactly. Hyenas have their own family, Hyaenidae, but they are more closely related to cats, mongooses, and civets than to dogs despite their dog-like appearance.
Do hyenas only scavenge?
No. Spotted hyenas are skilled hunters that kill most of their own prey in cooperative groups, in addition to scavenging. The idea that they only steal kills is a myth.
Why do hyenas laugh?
The hyena's "laugh" is a vocalization that signals excitement, nervousness, or social tension, often during feeding or conflict. It is communication, not a sign of amusement.
How strong is a hyena's bite?
Spotted hyenas have exceptionally powerful jaws, among the strongest of any mammal for their size, allowing them to crush and eat bones that other predators cannot.
Are female hyenas dominant?
Yes. Spotted hyena clans are matriarchal. Females are larger than males and outrank them, and social status is inherited through the female line.
Are hyenas endangered?
The spotted hyena is listed as Least Concern and remains widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, though local populations are threatened by habitat loss and persecution by people.
