🦁Hyenas are part of the Carnivora family, which also includes cats and dogs.
🌍Hyenas have evolved and adapted to different environments, from Asia to Africa.
🦴The earliest hyenas were scavengers, feeding on corpses and trapped animals.
🐆Some hyenas, like the striped hyena, are skilled hunters and can take down larger prey.
🔍The ardwolf, often called a hyena, is an insectivorous species and differs from other hyenas in diet and morphology.
What are the closest relatives of hyenas?
—Hyenas are closely related to mongooses and their close relatives, forming the hyena day family.
Do hyenas only scavenge for food?
—While scavenging is a common behavior, some hyenas, such as the spotted hyena, are skilled hunters.
Are hyenas social animals?
—Yes, hyenas are known for their complex social structures and live in groups called clans.
What is the largest hyena species?
—The giant hyena, also known as pachycrocuta, was the largest hyena species in history, weighing up to 240 pounds.
How many species of hyenas are there?
—There are four extant species of hyenas: the spotted hyena, brown hyena, striped hyena, and aardwolf.
00:00The Plains of Africa represent one of the last great bastions of megafauna life.
00:09The iconic predators of the African plains include lions, leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs.
00:17Hyenas are a group of mammalian carnivores prominent throughout Africa and Asia.
01:09Hyenas belong to the Carnivora family, which includes various carnivorous mammals.
02:01The evolution of hyenas can be traced back to the early Miocene, with the first hyenas appearing 16 million years ago.
03:32There are different types of hyenas, including jackal-like hyenas and dog-like hyenas.
04:40Hyenas have played important roles as scavengers and hunters in different ecosystems.
06:32The modern-day hyenas include the striped hyena, brown hyena, and spotted hyena.
