Hyena

Hyenas Temporal range: 22–0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Early Miocene – recent
The four extant species of hyena, clockwise from upper left: spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea), aardwolf (Proteles cristata), and striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Suborder:	Feliformia
Superfamily:	Herpestoidea
Family:	Hyaenidae Gray, 1821
Type genus
Hyaena Brisson, 1762
Genera
†Incertae Sedis †Tongxinictis Hyaeninae Crocuta (olive overlay on map) Hyaena (blue on map, includes Parahyaena) Parahyaena †Adcrocuta †Chasmaporthetes †Allohyaena †Hyaenictis †Palinhyaena †Leecyaena †Ikelohyaena †Pachycrocuta †Pliocrocuta †Belbus †Metahyaena †Werdelinus Protelinae Proteles (magenta red on map) †Gansuyaena †Ictitheriinae †Ictitherium †Protictitherium †Thalassictis †Hyaenotherium †Miohyaenotherium †Plioviverrops †Lycyaena †Palinhyaena †Werdelinus †Plioviverrops †Tungurictis †Percrocutinae? †Percrocuta? †Dinocrocuta?
Synonyms
Protelidae Flower, 1869 Percrocutidae? Werdelin & Solounias, 1991

Hyenas or hyaenas (/haɪˈiːnəz/ hi-EE-nəz; from Ancient Greek ὕαινα, hýaina)^[1] are feliform carnivoran mammals belonging to the family Hyaenidae (/haɪˈɛnɪdiː/). With just four extant species (each in its own genus), it is the fifth-smallest family in the order Carnivora and one of the smallest in the class Mammalia.^[2] Despite their low diversity, hyenas are unique and vital components of most African ecosystems.^[3]

Although phylogenetically closer to felines and viverrids, hyenas are behaviourally and morphologically similar to canids in several elements due to convergent evolution: both hyenas and canines are non-arboreal, cursorial hunters that catch prey with their teeth rather than claws. Both eat food quickly and may store it, and their calloused feet with large, blunt, nonretractable claws are adapted for running and making sharp turns. However, hyenas' grooming, scent marking, defecation habits, mating and parental behavior are consistent with the behavior of other feliforms.^[4]

Hyenas feature prominently in the folklore and mythology of human cultures that live alongside them. Hyenas are commonly viewed as frightening and worthy of contempt. In some cultures, hyenas are thought to influence people's spirits, rob graves, and steal livestock and children.^[5] Other cultures associate them with witchcraft, using their body parts in traditional medicine.^[6]