Hyenas often spark curiosity, leading many to wonder about their place in the animal kingdom. The common question is whether these creatures are more akin to cats or dogs, highlighting a widespread misunderstanding of their biological classification. Hyenas occupy a unique position, and their true lineage reveals a surprising evolutionary story.
Hyena’s Confusing Appearance
Hyenas are often mistaken for dogs due to physical traits and behaviors. They possess a dog-like snout, non-retractable claws, and a running build. Their large, rounded ears and a somewhat sloping back, where their front legs appear longer than their hind legs, also contribute to this dog-like appearance. Their scavenging tendencies also align them with wild dogs.
Despite these dog-like features, certain characteristics evoke a feline connection. Hyenas have coarse, sparse fur, and their vocalizations can sound like cackles or “whoops.” Their movement and sometimes solitary hunting can also suggest a feline link. This blend of canine and feline attributes creates confusion about their scientific classification.
Unraveling the Family Tree
The scientific classification of carnivores divides them into two suborders: Feliformia, which includes cat-like carnivores, and Caniformia, encompassing dog-like carnivores. Despite their visual similarities to dogs, hyenas belong within the Feliformia suborder. This places them in a direct evolutionary relationship with cats, mongooses, and civets, rather than with dogs, wolves, or bears.
Their dog-like appearance is a result of convergent evolution, where unrelated species develop similar physical characteristics due to adapting to similar environmental pressures. For instance, both hyenas and canids evolved body plans for endurance hunting in open environments. Genetic evidence strongly supports this classification, confirming that hyenas share a more recent common ancestor with other feliforms. This genetic distinction overrides superficial resemblances, clarifying their true biological affinity.
Hyena’s Distinctive Biology
Hyenas exhibit distinctive biological and behavioral adaptations. Spotted hyenas, for example, possess powerful jaws, capable of exerting a bite force of 1,100 PSI. This strength, combined with specialized teeth, allows them to crush and digest bones, accessing nutrient-rich marrow that most other predators cannot. Their digestive system is also adapted to process entire carcasses, including skin, hooves, and horns.
Hyenas live in social structures known as clans, which are matriarchal, meaning females dominate the group. These clans can be quite large, sometimes numbering over a hundred individuals, and exhibit a social hierarchy. Offspring inherit their social rank from their mothers, influencing their access to resources and overall survival.
While often stereotyped as scavengers, spotted hyenas are efficient hunters. A significant portion of their diet comes from their own kills. They employ diverse hunting strategies, from solitary hunts for smaller prey to coordinated pack efforts for larger animals like zebras and wildebeests. Their intelligence and teamwork, along with stamina, allow them to pursue prey over long distances, making them effective predators in their ecosystems.