Home›Mammals›Taxonomy›HyaenidaeTaxaHyaenidaeMammal FamiliesReference and ClassificationThoroughly VerifiedA small family of carnivores native to Africa and parts of Asia, with powerful jaws and teeth adapted for crushing bone, and, in the case of the spotted hyena, complex social behavior once thought unique to primates.FactsHyaenidaeConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsTaxonomic RankWell-attestedFamily 2Scientific NameWell-attestedHyaenidae 2Member Count BandWell-attestedUnder 10 Species 3Era First AppearedWell-attestedNeogene 4DisputedMember Species/Taxa CountScholarly debate4 2Approximate described-species (or, for a genus, described-taxon) count; continually revised as species are newly described, reclassified or synonymized.ClassificationLiving or ExtinctWell-attestedYes 1HyaenidaeFilter Results4 entriesCommon GroupAllCarnivorans (4)Mustelids, Procyonids And Other Carnivorans (4)Everyday GroupAllMustelids, Procyonids And Other Carnivorans (4)HabitatAllDesert (2)Grassland (1)River (1)Savanna (2)Xeric Shrubland (1)Where It LivesAllAfrica (4)Botswana (2)Eswatini (1)Mozambique (2)Namibia (2)South Africa (1)South Asia (1)Tajikistan (1)Turkmenistan (1)Uzbekistan (1)Zimbabwe (2)Conservation StatusAllLeast Concern (2)Near Threatened (2)DietAllDetritivore or Scavenger (3)Insectivore (1)System (Realm)AllTerrestrial (4)Living or ExtinctAllYes (4)Relationship to PeopleAllAgricultural or Structural Pest (1)Hunted or Fished (2)Natural Pest Control (1)Used in Traditional Medicine (1)CITES AppendixAllAppendix III (2)Not Listed (2)EcosystemAllKalahari Desert (1)Kruger National Park (1)Namib Desert (1)Okavango Delta (1)Sahel (1)Serengeti (2)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 4AardwolfHyaenidaeBrown HyenaHyaenidaeSpotted HyenaHyaenidaeStriped HyenaHyaenidaeConnectionsChild Taxon OfCarnivora, Taxa Well-attested Source Catalogue of LifeParent Taxon OfAardwolf, Species Well-attested Source Catalogue of LifeBrown Hyena, Species Well-attested Source Brown Hyena (Wikidata)tier 2Spotted Hyena, Species Well-attested Source Catalogue of LifeStriped Hyena, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Hyaenatier 2In the Other AtlasesFound InAfricaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.Source Animal Diversity Web: Hyaenidae (Animal Diversity Web)Family account, introductionQuote, Family account, introductionThe family Hyaenidae contains four species, each in its own genus, found in Africa, SW Asia, and India.AsiaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.Source Animal Diversity Web: Hyaenidae (Animal Diversity Web)Family account, introduction, Asian rangeQuote, Family account, introduction, Asian rangeThe family Hyaenidae contains four species, each in its own genus, found in Africa, SW Asia, and India.Sources1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)tier 2Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ42046, descriptionView the Source2. Catalogue of LifeSpecies 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeTaxonomic Rank: FamilyScientific Name: HyaenidaeMember Species/Taxa Count: 4View the Source3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for HyaenidaeCatalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount"speciesExtantCount": 4View the Source4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for HyaenidaePaleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)"taxon_name": "Hyaenidae" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 23.04 ... "early_interval": "Aquitanian"View the SourceWikidata: HyaenidaeWikidata Q42046, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the SourceBrown Hyena (Wikidata)tier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Brown Hyena, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Hyaenatier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Striped Hyena, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.Sign in to join the discussion.Reader Challenges (0)No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.