{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "hyena",
  "name": "Spotted Hyena",
  "scientificName": "Crocuta crocuta",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "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.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Carnivora",
    "family": "Hyaenidae",
    "genus": "Crocuta"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 60,
    "lengthM": 1.5,
    "topSpeedKmh": 60,
    "lifespanYears": 12
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Crocuta crocuta"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Savanna, grassland, and semi-desert"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "About 12 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "40–86 kg (88–190 lb)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 60 km/h (37 mph)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Savannas, grasslands, and semi-deserts across sub-Saharan Africa.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "Bohm, T. & Höner, O. (2015). Crocuta crocuta. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.",
      "url": null
    },
    {
      "citation": "Kruuk, H. (1972). The Spotted Hyena: A Study of Predation and Social Behavior. University of Chicago Press.",
      "url": null
    },
    {
      "citation": "Estes, R. D. (1991). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals. University of California Press.",
      "url": null
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hyena/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hyena/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}