Many wonder if hyenas are a type of wild dog due to their appearance and social behaviors. This article clarifies their scientific classification, detailing their unique evolutionary path and distinct characteristics. Hyenas occupy a unique position within the animal kingdom, separate from the canine family.
Understanding Hyena Classification
Hyenas are not members of the dog family (Canidae) or the cat family (Felidae). Instead, they belong to their own distinct biological family, Hyaenidae, which comprises four extant species: the spotted hyena, striped hyena, brown hyena, and aardwolf. They are categorized under the order Carnivora, specifically the suborder Feliformia, which includes “cat-like” carnivores like true cats, mongooses, and civets. This places them evolutionarily closer to felines than to canines, which are in the suborder Caniformia. Their lineage traces back approximately 22 million years, originating in Eurasia.
The Hyaenidae family represents one of the smallest families within the order Carnivora, with each of the four species belonging to its own genus. Despite their low species diversity, hyenas play a significant role in their ecosystems across Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.
Distinctive Traits of Hyenas
Hyenas possess biological and behavioral traits that distinguish them from canids. One prominent feature is their specialized dental structure, designed for consuming tough materials. Hyenas, particularly the spotted hyena, have exceptionally powerful jaws and robust premolars capable of crushing bone with significant force, estimated at up to 1,100 pounds per square inch (psi). Their digestive systems are also highly efficient, allowing them to process almost every part of an animal carcass, including bones, hooves, and hair.
Their vocal repertoire is another distinctive characteristic. While spotted hyenas are famously known for their “laughing” sounds, which often indicate excitement or nervousness, they produce a diverse array of up to 14 different vocalizations. These include long-distance “whoops” used for communication across vast territories, as well as growls, grunts, and squeals for closer interactions. Spotted hyenas also exhibit a complex social structure, living in large, hierarchical clans that can number up to 130 individuals. These clans are matriarchal, with females being larger, more dominant, and outranking all males, even the lowest-ranking female holding dominance over the highest-ranking male.
Hyenas employ unique scent marking behaviors to communicate and define their territories. They use a specialized subcaudal scent pouch to deposit a strong-smelling substance called “paste” onto grass stalks and other objects. This “pasting” behavior, facilitated by symbiotic bacteria in their scent glands, conveys information about an individual’s species, sex, and reproductive status.
Why the Confusion Exists
The common misconception that hyenas are a type of dog largely stems from superficial resemblances in appearance and behavior. Hyenas share a general body shape with canids, including a wolf-like build with non-retractable claws adapted for running. They are also cursorial hunters, and some species, like the spotted hyena, hunt cooperatively in groups, similar to wild dogs or wolves. These shared traits are primarily a result of convergent evolution, where unrelated species develop similar features due to adapting to comparable ecological pressures and niches.
For instance, both hyenas and canids evolved the ability to crush bones, which is an adaptation for scavenging and consuming carrion, allowing them to utilize resources efficiently. However, the specific dental structures enabling this capability evolved independently in each group. Despite these behavioral and morphological similarities, their divergence into distinct suborders (Feliformia for hyenas and Caniformia for dogs) highlights that their resemblances are a product of environmental adaptation rather than close genetic kinship.