Spotted Hyena

Spotted hyena Temporal range: 3.5–0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ Late Pliocene – Recent
Adult in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Whooping recorded in Umfolozi Game Reserve, South Africa
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Hyaenidae
Subfamily:	Hyaeninae
Genus:	Crocuta Kaup, 1828
Species:	C. crocuta
Binomial name
Crocuta crocuta (Erxleben, 1777)
range
Synonyms
Species synonymy capensis Heller, 1914 cuvieri Bory de St. Vincent, 1825 fisi Bory de St. Vincent, 1825 fortis J. A. Allen, 1924 gariepensis Matschie, 1900 germinans Matschie, 1900 habessynica de Blainville, 1844 kibonotensis Lönnberg, 1908 leontiewi Satunin, 1905 maculata Thunberg, 1811 noltei Matschie, 1900 nzoyae Cabrera, 1911 panganensis Lönnberg, 1908 rufa Desmarest, 1817 rufopicta Cabrera, 1911 sivalensis Falconer and Cautley in Falconer, 1868 thierryi Matschie, 1900 thomasi Cabrera, 1911 togoensis Matschie, 1900 wissmanni Matschie, 1900

The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), also known as the laughing hyena, is a species of hyena, currently classed as the sole member of the genus Crocuta, native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN on account of its widespread range and large numbers estimated between 27,000 and 47,000 individuals. The species is, however, experiencing declines outside of protected areas due to habitat loss and poaching. The species may have originated in Asia, and once ranged throughout Europe for at least one million years until the end of the . The spotted hyena is the largest known member of the Hyaenidae, and is further physically distinguished from other species by its vaguely bear-like build, its rounded ears, its less prominent mane, its spotted pelt, its more dual purposed dentition, its fewer nipples and the presence of a pseudo-penis in the female. It is the only mammalian species to lack an external vaginal opening.

The spotted hyena is the most social of the Carnivora in that it has the largest group sizes and most complex social behaviours. Its social organisation is unlike that of any other carnivore, bearing closer resemblance to that of cercopithecine primates (baboons and macaques) with respect to group-size, hierarchical structure, and frequency of social interaction among both kin and unrelated group-mates. However, the social system of the spotted hyena is openly competitive rather than cooperative, with access to kills, mating opportunities and the time of dispersal for males depending on the ability to dominate other clan-members. Females provide only for their own cubs rather than assist each other, and males display no paternal care. Spotted hyena society is matriarchal; females are larger than males, and dominate them.

The spotted hyena is a highly successful animal, being the most common large carnivore in Africa. Its success is due in part to its adaptability and opportunism; it is primarily a hunter but may also scavenge, with the capacity to eat and digest skin, bone and other animal waste. In functional terms, the spotted hyena makes the most efficient use of animal matter of all African carnivores. The spotted hyena displays greater plasticity in its hunting and foraging behaviour than other African carnivores; it hunts alone, in small parties of 2–5 individuals or in large groups. During a hunt, spotted hyenas often run through ungulate herds in order to select an individual to attack. Once selected, their prey is chased over long distance, often several kilometres, at speeds of up to 60 km/h.