The hyena family (Hyaenidae) is a relatively small family of mammals, currently containing four known species: the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), the brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea), the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), and the aardvark (Proteles cristata). If you'd like to learn more about these amazing animals, please continue reading this article from *Ecología Verde*, which introduces the different hyena species.
Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
The spotted hyena is the only species in its genus, found in the open plains of sub-Saharan Africa, sometimes even near human settlements. However, their distribution is uneven, mostly concentrated in protected areas. Outside these areas, they are frequently hunted, trapped, or poisoned by humans. Despite these threats, the IUCN lists it as "Least Concern (LC)".
The body length is 110–150 cm, and the tail length is 20–35 cm.
They weigh approximately 70 kilograms, with females typically being larger than males.
Its fur is yellowish-red with irregular brown spots.
It has a tuft of black tail hairs and a relatively short mane.
He is an excellent runner and swimmer.
They are mostly active at dusk or night, live in groups, with females as the group leaders, and exhibit a clear territoriality.
The gestation period is about 110 days, and each litter produces 1-3 offspring. The offspring are born with dark and soft fur.
Although considered scavengers, they can organize groups of up to 30 individuals to hunt, only eating scraps when necessary.
Brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea)
Brown hyenas primarily inhabit southern Africa, particularly the Kalahari and Namibian desert regions. They prefer arid areas such as coastlines, semi-deserts, sparse shrublands, and forest steppes. Outside protected areas, brown hyenas are frequently hunted or poisoned due to conflicts with humans. The IUCN listed them as Near Threatened (NT) in 2014.
Smaller than the spotted hyena, it weighs about 40 kilograms and is about 120 centimeters long, with little difference between the sexes.
They primarily feed on carrion, but also eat fruit; their hunting rate is low, but they occasionally steal prey from jackals or leopards.
The fur is relatively long and dark in color, especially on the back and tail; the head is grayish.
The limbs have gray-black stripes.
Its skull and bite force are extremely strong, capable of crushing bones.
The gestation period is about 97 days, and each litter contains a maximum of 5 offspring, which are raised by both parents.
Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)
The striped hyena has a wide but scattered distribution, inhabiting savannas, open woodlands, bramble thickets, and deserts in Africa, West Asia, Pakistan, and India, and occasionally appearing near human settlements such as the area around Tel Aviv. It is extinct in Europe. Major threats include hunting by humans and the depletion of prey resources. The IUCN lists it as "Near Threatened (NT)".
Body length (including tail) is 100–115 cm.
Females can weigh up to 35 kilograms, while males are slightly heavier.
Its fur is brownish-gray, with distinct black stripes on its limbs and sides.
The mane on the back of the neck extends to the tail, which is whitish in color.
The ears are large and erect.
It feeds on small marsupials and rodents, as well as eggs, birds, carrion, and the carcasses of large herbivores.
Coyote (Proteles cristata)
The aardvark is listed as "Least Concern (LC)" by the IUCN because it is widely distributed across several protected areas and currently faces no significant threat to its survival. The species is divided into two populations: a southern population found in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique; and an eastern population found in central Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and southern Egypt.
It can reach a length of 110 centimeters and a weight of 14 kilograms.
It is a solitary, nocturnal animal that rests in underground burrows during the day.
Unlike other hyenas, it is an insectivorous animal with degenerated teeth and underdeveloped molars.
It primarily preys on termites, licking them with its sticky tongue, and occasionally eats birds and rodents.
After learning about these four types of hyenas, you might also be interested in reading our popular science article about "wild boar species".
