Hyenas - Facts for Kids

Basic Information

Hyenas are not members of the dog family — they actually belong to their own special family called Hyaenidae, and are more closely related to cats and mongooses!

There are four living species (types) of hyenas: the Spotted Hyena, Striped Hyena, Brown Hyena, and Aardwolf!

A group of hyenas is called a clan or cackle, which can have anywhere from 3 to 80 members living together!

Female spotted hyenas are larger than males and are the leaders of their clans, making them one of the few mammal species where females are naturally in charge!

Baby hyenas are called cubs, and they’re born with their eyes open and already have a full set of teeth!

Spotted hyenas can be found across most of Africa south of the Sahara Desert, living in areas ranging from dry savannas to mountainous forests!

While many people think hyenas only eat dead animals they find, they’re actually skilled hunters that catch 60–95% of their own food!

A hyena’s scientific name group is: Kingdom Animalia, Class Mammalia (mammals), Order Carnivora (meat-eaters), Family Hyaenidae!

Adult spotted hyenas typically weigh between 90–190 pounds (40-86 kg), which is about the size of a large dog!

In the wild, spotted hyenas usually live around 12 years (some may reach up to about 20–25). In zoos, most live into their 20s, with the oldest reaching nearly 30 years!

Physical Characteristics

Hyenas have one of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom — their jaws can crush bones with a force of 1,100 pounds per square inch!

A spotted hyena’s spots are like fingerprints — no two hyenas have exactly the same pattern!

Hyenas have special strong acids in their stomachs that allow them to digest bones, hooves, and even teeth from their prey!

The aardwolf species (type) of hyena has a special mane (long hair) along its back that it can raise when frightened, making it appear up to twice its normal size!

Spotted hyenas have large, round ears that help them hear prey from up to 3 miles (5 km) away!

Hyenas look like they have longer front legs than back legs, making their backs slope, but actually their leg lengths are almost the same — it’s their big neck and shoulder muscles that make them look like downhill champs, which helps them run far and carry heavy food!

Hyenas stay cool in hot African weather by panting, just like dogs do when they’re hot!

An adult spotted hyena’s heart makes up about 1% of its body weight, which is twice the size of a lion’s heart compared to body size, helping it run for very long distances!

Hyenas have tough paw pads that help them run across rocky and thorny ground without slipping or getting hurt!

A hyena’s nose is so sensitive it can smell a carcass from up to 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away!

A hyena’s fur has a mix of soft underfur and thick guard hairs that help keep it warm in cooler weather!

A hyena’s eyes contain a special reflective layer (like a mirror) called the tapetum lucidum that helps them see in the dark!

Adult spotted hyenas have 32–34 teeth, including special bone-crushing teeth that are as hard as steel!

Hyenas have super‑strong muscles in their shoulders and necks that help them carry heavy food and run long distances!

The brown hyena’s long fur can reach lengths of up to 12 inches (30.5 cm) on its back!

A hyena’s tongue is rough like a cat’s, helping them clean meat off bones!

A hyena’s paw prints look a lot like a dog’s, and you can spot them by the visible claw marks and wide, rounded toes!

The striped hyena’s mane can stand up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall when they’re excited or scared!

A spotted hyena’s bite is strong enough to crush a baseball bat!

Spotted hyenas have large brains for their size — some of the biggest among meat-eating animals!

A hyena’s jaw muscles are stronger than a lion‘s!

An adult spotted hyena weighs about as much as three seven-year-old kids — about 90 to 190 lb (40–86 kg)!

Behavior & Intelligence

Spotted hyenas are as intelligent as chimpanzees when it comes to solving problems and can work together to solve tricky puzzles!

Each hyena has its own unique laugh-like call that other hyenas can recognize, just like how we recognize different people’s voices!

Hyena cubs start play-fighting when they’re just a few weeks old, which helps them learn important hunting and social skills!

Spotted hyenas can remember and recognize individual clan members for many years, even after long separations!

Hyenas use over 12 different types of sounds to communicate with each other, including whoops, grunts, and their famous “laughing” sound!

Female hyenas teach their cubs social rules and hunting techniques for up to two years before the cubs become independent!

Hyenas mark their territory using a special paste from their anal glands (scent makers near their bottom) that smells like soap to humans but contains important chemical messages for other hyenas!

Spotted hyenas can run at speeds up to 37 miles per hour (60 kilometers per hour) and can maintain this speed for up to 3 miles!

Hyenas are excellent swimmers and will even hunt in water, though they prefer to stay on land!

When hunting in groups, hyenas use smart teamwork and can take down prey much larger than themselves!

Hyenas can follow the sound of vultures feeding from up to 6 miles (10 kilometers) away!

Spotted hyenas often hide extra food — like chunks of carcass — underwater to keep it fresh and safe from other animals!

When hunting in groups, hyenas take turns chasing prey to tire it out while other pack members rest!

Young hyenas learn to recognize the rank of clan members by watching how adults interact!

Hyenas patrol the edges of their territory at night and can travel around 15 km (9 miles) in a single evening!

Spotted hyenas can work together to plan tricky hunting strategies using just their sounds!

Male hyenas must wait at least 1 to 2 years after joining a new clan before they can mate!

Hyenas leave ‘bulletin boards’ of scent paste from their anal glands on grass and bushes — it carries secret messages about who’s been there, their clan, sex, age, and mood!