Hyenas are medium dog-like carnivores. While they look somewhat like dogs, they belong to their own unique family, the Hyaenidae. They live in savannas, grasslands, forests, sub-deserts and the mountains of Africa and Asia. Find out more!

There are 4 members of the Hyaenidae family. The first is the striped hyena, the second is the giggly spotted hyena, the third is the brown hyena and the last is the aardwolf. Also, a hyena could live for about 12 years, while some can live up to 25 years.

Striped hyenas were thought to live solitary but have recently been recorded to live in very small groups. However, they still like to forage alone. Brown hyenas were also thought to be solitary, but have recently been seen in clans of 10 members. They have also been seen foraging in a group.

All species are primarily nocturnal, but sometimes they like to forage and explore early in the morning. Spotted hyenas kill 95% of the animals that they eat. Striped and brown hyenas tend to scavenge their food from larger predators, like lions. Aardwolves are insectivores and stick to eating termites.

Spotted hyenas “laugh” when they’re trying to communicate excitement or frustration. You can hear them “laughing” often when they’re hunting. They mate outside of their clan. Males and females that aren’t related will make after a courtship that lasts up to 7 days. Females will bear litters of 2 to 4 cubs, which will be born with their eyes open.