Spotted Hyena

Hello there! You can call me a spotted hyena, but you might have heard my other name—the laughing hyena. Before we go on, let me clear something up. I'm not a type of dog, and I'm certainly not a cat. My family, the Hyaenidae, is completely unique. Very clever humans gave my species its scientific name, Crocuta crocuta, all the way back in 1777. My coat is sandy-colored and covered in dark spots, which helps me blend into the tall grasses of the African savanna. My body is built for power, with strong shoulders and legs that help me run for very long distances. I am perfectly made for life on these wide-open grasslands.

I don’t live alone; I live with my family, which we call a clan. And our clans are huge. Some can have as many as 80 hyenas living and working together. But the most special thing about our clans is who is in charge: the females. The female hyenas are bigger and stronger than the males, and they lead everyone. I was born with my siblings in a cozy, safe den dug deep into the earth. From my very first day, I began learning the important rules of my clan. We have a complex social life, and understanding my place helps us all work together to find food, protect our territory, and keep each other safe from danger.

You’ve probably heard stories about my famous laugh, but it doesn't always mean I think something is funny. That giggling sound is a way I communicate all sorts of things. I might make it when I’m feeling excited about a meal, a little nervous around a bigger hyena, or when I'm showing respect to a higher-ranking member of my clan. But my most important sound is the 'whoop.' It's a loud, rising call that I can use to talk to my clanmates even when they are miles away. This 'whoop' lets them know where I am, alerts them if I've found food, or calls them together for a hunt.

Many people have the wrong idea about me. They think my clan and I only eat leftovers that other animals leave behind. While we are excellent at finding meals this way, we are also incredibly skilled hunters. There is nothing like the thrill of chasing down prey, like a wildebeest, with my clanmates under the bright, moonlit sky. We work as a team to hunt successfully. I also have one of the most powerful jaws of any mammal. It’s so strong that I can easily crack open thick bones to get to the nutritious marrow inside. This means we never let any part of a meal go to waste.

My role here on the savanna is very important. By eating every last bit of an animal, including the bones, my clan and I act as nature’s cleanup crew. We help keep the environment healthy and stop sicknesses from spreading through the ecosystem, which is good for all the other animals who live here. My ancestors have roamed these lands for millions of years, adapting and thriving. Today, it’s so important for people to understand our true nature—that we are intelligent, social, and vital to our home. By protecting the beautiful savanna, you can help make sure my family can thrive for many more years to come.