Hyena

Hyenas at a glance

Need to know

• Hyenas are Africa and Asia’s most important carnivorous scavenger mammals.
• Spotted hyenas have the most complex social structure of any carnivore except primates.
• Despite myth, hyenas are skilled hunters — up to 70% of their diet is acquired by hunting.
• Aardwolves, the smallest hyenas, eat mainly insects and not large animals.
• Hyena jaws are among the most powerful in the animal kingdom, able to crush bones.
• Female spotted hyenas are larger and more dominant than males.

About the Hyenas

Hyenas are members of the family Hyaenidae, a unique and adaptive group of carnivorous mammals found primarily across Africa and parts of Asia. Despite their reputation as cowardly scavengers, the largest species, the spotted hyena, is an accomplished hunter with highly complex social behavior and sophisticated forms of communication. The family includes not only the famous spotted hyena but also the striped hyena, brown hyena, and the termite-eating aardwolf.

Each species has evolved specialized adaptations for survival, from the powerful bone-crushing jaws of the spotted hyena to the slender, insectivorous aardwolf. Hyenas play a critical ecological role: they are both keystone scavengers and, in the case of some species, primary predators. Their populations are threatened by human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss, and mistaken beliefs about their nature.

Physical characteristics

Size: 90 cm – 180 cm (adult length, varies by species). Weight: 27 kg – 86 kg (adult weight range). Lifespan: 12-25 years (wild), up to 25 years (captivity).

• Large, powerful jaws and teeth, especially in spotted hyenas
• Long forelegs, sloping back
• Short dense fur with distinct patterns (spots or stripes)
• Non-retractable claws and broad, padded paws
• Rounded ears (spotted) or pointed (striped/brown/aardwolf)

Notable species

• Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) — Least Concern. Savannas, grasslands, woodlands, semi-deserts Regions: East Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, Central Africa, Horn of Africa.
• Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) — Near Threatened. Arid and semi-arid scrub, savanna, rocky outcrops, open forest Regions: North Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Indian subcontinent, Arabian Peninsula.
• Brown Hyena (Parahyaena brunnea) — Near Threatened. Deserts, semi-deserts, coastal areas, scrublands Regions: Southern Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa.
• Aardwolf (Proteles cristata) — Least Concern. Open dry plains, bushlands, grasslands Regions: Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, Angola, Namibia, South Africa.

Habitat and range

Original range: Evolved in Africa and southern Eurasia; fossil evidence across Eurasia and Africa

Current distribution: Present throughout Sub-Saharan Africa with some species extending into North and East Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and parts of southeastern Europe and western Asia

Preferred environments: Savanna grasslands, Arid and semi-arid scrubland, Open woodlands, Deserts, Rocky outcrops

Regions: East Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, North Africa, Horn of Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia

Where to see Hyenas

• Serengeti National Park, Tanzania — June to October (dry season). Large spotted hyena clans are visible near wildebeest herds and at dusk near waterholes.
• Etosha National Park, Namibia — May to October. Brown hyenas are seen at waterholes in arid regions, best at dawn or dusk.
• Gir Forest National Park, India — December to March. Striped hyenas can be observed near rocky outcrops and scrub forest edges.

Behavior and diet

Diet: Opportunistic carnivores: mostly large mammals but also carrion, bones, and in the case of aardwolves, termites and insects.

Social structure: Spotted hyenas live in large female-dominated clans; striped and brown hyenas are more solitary or in small family groups; aardwolves are monogamous pairs or alone.

Communication: Hyenas use complex vocalizations (whoops, giggles, grunts), body language, and scent marking to communicate dominance, territory, and alarm.

• Spotted hyenas hunt cooperatively in groups, employing tactical strategies.
• Females are socially dominant and larger due to higher androgen levels.
• Aardwolves lap termites from ground without destroying nests.
• Hyenas 'laugh' (giggle-vocalizations) during social excitement or submission.

Interactions with other animals

• Lions (competitive): Hyenas and lions compete fiercely for food and territory, sometimes stealing kills from each other.
• Vultures (competitive): Both scavenge the same carcasses, often gathering at large kills.
• Wild dogs (competitive): Hyenas sometimes chase African wild dogs from their kills.
• Antelope (prey): Hyenas hunt and kill various species of antelope.

Conservation

IUCN Red List status: Varies by species: Least Concern (spotted, aardwolf), Near Threatened (brown, striped)

Threats

• Habitat loss and fragmentation from agricultural expansion
• Retaliatory killing by livestock farmers and conflict with humans
• Poisoning and illegal persecution
• Decline in prey base

Conservation efforts

• Legal protections in wildlife reserves and national parks
• Community-based conservation and livestock protection initiatives
• Research and education to mitigate human-wildlife conflict
• Monitoring populations and genetic diversity

How to help

• Support organizations protecting hyena habitats and educating communities
• Promote coexistence strategies for farmers and hyenas
• Discourage use of poisons and harmful traps
• Raise awareness about the ecological importance of hyenas
• Fund or participate in citizen science monitoring of hyenas

Hyenas facts for kids

Hyenas are strong wild animals found in Africa and parts of Asia. Some hyenas hunt in groups and 'laugh' loudly, while others like aardwolves eat mostly insects. Despite their scary reputation, hyenas are important for nature because they clean up dead animals.

• Hyenas can crush bones to get the yummy marrow inside.
• Spotted hyenas really do make sounds that sound like giggles or laughs!
• Some hyenas, like the aardwolf, love eating termites more than meat.
• Hyenas live in big groups called clans, and girl hyenas are the boss!
• Hyena babies are born with their eyes open and tiny teeth.

Did you know? Did you know? Spotted hyenas have a bite so strong, they can crack open the bones of giraffes and buffalos!

Watch & learn

• How Hyenas Hunt and Survive in the Wild — BBC Earth. This documentary segment showcases the social structure, unique hunting tactics, and adaptability of hyenas, dispelling common myths about their scavenger role. BBC Earth’s award-winning footage provides an up-close look at their behavior in the African savannah.
• Clash of Hyenas and Lions: Power Struggles on the Plains — National Geographic Wild. Watch dramatic encounters between hyenas and lions, including their fierce nighttime battles and strategies for survival. National Geographic Wild highlights the intelligence and resourcefulness of hyena clans.
• Hyena Queens: Matriarchs of the Mara — Smithsonian Channel. Explore the matriarchal leadership of hyena clans and how alpha females lead, protect cubs, and maintain order. The Smithsonian Channel provides fascinating insights into hyena society rarely seen on camera.
• Clever and Misunderstood: The True Nature of Hyenas — PBS Nature. PBS Nature offers an in-depth look at the intelligence, complex social systems, and surprisingly tender behaviors of hyenas, debunking their negative reputation and showcasing their vital ecological role.
• The Hyena: Scavenger or Hunter? — BBC Earth. Delve into the reality of hyena feeding habits, as BBC Earth explores whether these carnivores are just scavengers or efficient hunters in their own right. Stunning on-location footage illustrates their crucial place in the ecosystem.