There are only 4 living species of hyenas in the family Hyaenidae. Despite their dog-like appearance, hyenas belong to the mammalian suborder Feliformia, making them evolutionarily closer to cats and mongooses than to canines.
The Hyaenidae family is the fifth-smallest biological family in the mammal kingdom. It is divided into two distinct subfamilies: the robust “bone-crushing” true hyenas (Hyaeninae) and the lightly built, insect-eating Aardwolf (Protelinae).
The “Bone-Crushing” Hyenas (Subfamily Hyaeninae)
The three species in this subfamily possess massive premolars and incredibly powerful jaw muscles designed to splinter and consume solid bone, leaving almost no waste behind from a carcass.
1. Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
The Spotted Hyena, also known as the laughing hyena, is the largest and most well-known species. Unlike the other species, which are primarily scavengers, Spotted Hyenas are highly successful apex predators that hunt and kill up to 95% of their own food.
- Social Structure: They live in complex, highly organized matriarchal clans of up to 80 individuals. Females are larger, more aggressive, and dominate the males.
- Bite Force: They possess one of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom, measuring at roughly 1,100 PSI—strong enough to crush giraffe and elephant bones.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
2. Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena)
The Striped Hyena is the only hyena species found outside of the African continent. Their range extends through North Africa, the Middle East, and into the Indian subcontinent.
- Behavior: They are strictly nocturnal and solitary foragers, rarely seen in groups larger than a mated pair. When threatened, they erect the long hair along their spine to appear up to 38% larger.
- Diet: They are primarily scavengers, feeding on the kills of larger predators, but will also eat fruit and insects.
- Conservation Status: Near Threatened (global population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature individuals).
3. Brown Hyena (Parahyaena brunnea)
The Brown Hyena is the rarest of the true hyenas. Like many of the animals featured in our guide to 10 Rare & Endangered Animals You’ve Never Heard Of, the Brown Hyena suffers from severe habitat fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict.
It is also often known in Southern Africa by the Afrikaans name Strandwolf, which translates to “beach wolf” or “wolf of the beach”. This suits the other Aardwolf below quite well, and is called this way because they are commonly found along remote, quiet stretches of coastline and beach, scavenging for seals or other dead animals that have washed to shore.
- Habitat: They are uniquely adapted to survive in the harsh, arid environments of the Kalahari and Namib deserts in Southern Africa.
- Appearance: They are easily identifiable by their long, shaggy, dark brown coats and pointed ears.
- Conservation Status: Near Threatened (estimated global population is under 4,500).
The Insectivorous Hyena (Subfamily Protelinae)
4. The Aardwolf (Proteles cristata)
The Aardwolf is the anomaly of the hyena family. Its name translates to “earth wolf” in Afrikaans. While it looks like a miniature, skinny Striped Hyena, its diet and physical adaptations are completely different from its bone-crushing cousins.
- The Diet: The Aardwolf’s jaw is too weak to crush bones, and its teeth are reduced to small pegs. Instead, it uses a long, sticky tongue to lap up insects. A single Aardwolf can consume up to 300,000 harvester termites in a single night.
- Social Structure: They form socially monogamous pairs and defend a shared territory, though they forage for termites alone.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
Hyena Species Comparison Chart
| Species | Primary Diet | Social Structure | Geographic Range | Conservation Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotted Hyena | Carnivore (Hunter) | Large Matriarchal Clans | Sub-Saharan Africa | Least Concern |
| Striped Hyena | Carnivore (Scavenger) | Solitary / Pairs | North Africa, Middle East, India | Near Threatened |
| Brown Hyena | Carnivore (Scavenger) | Small Clans | Southern Africa (Deserts) | Near Threatened |
| Aardwolf | Insectivore (Termites) | Monogamous Pairs | Eastern & Southern Africa | Least Concern |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Hyenas are neither dogs nor cats. They belong to their own unique biological family called Hyaenidae. However, they belong to the suborder Feliformia, meaning they are evolutionarily more closely related to cats and mongooses than they are to dogs.
Yes, the Aardwolf is a true member of the hyena family. It is the only surviving species in the Protelinae subfamily of hyenas, having diverged from the bone-crushing hyenas millions of years ago to specialize in eating termites.
No, there are no living hyenas in North or South America. Today, extant hyenas are only found in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. However, extinct species, such as the “running hyena” (Chasmaporthetes), did live in North America over a million years ago.
