Hyaeninae
Crocuta
Hyaena
Parahyaena
Proteles
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Hyenas (or
Hyaenas) are moderately large terrestrial
carnivores native to
Africa and
Asia, and members of the
family Hyaenidae. Although hyenas look rather like large dogs, they make up a separate biological family which is most closely related to
Herpestidae (the family of
mongooses and
meerkats).
In ancient times, large hyenas ranged over much of
Europe and Asia, but they are much reduced in range and diversity today. Only four species survive: the
Spotted,
Brown, and
Striped Hyenas (which together make up the subfamily Hyaeninae), and the
Aardwolf, which is the only member of the subfamily Protelinae.
In Africa today, Hyenas are associated with
Sorcery in folklore. The
Zulu nation, under
Shaka Zulu, feared the power of Hyenas.
Classification
Family Hyaenidae
