Understanding Hyenas: Are They Canines, Felines, or Unique Creatures?

What exactly is a hyena? Are hyenas dogs? Is it a feline or a canine or something else entirely? The answer to that question is somewhat complicated. The hyena can be described as a “cat-like” animal, but it’s really a unique creature in its own right.

This article will cover some fascinating facts about how the hyena relates to both cats and dogs in terms of its anatomy and behavior.

Is the Hyena a Canine or a Feline?

We already mentioned the fact that the hyena is a “cat-like” animal, but what does this mean exactly? It essentially means that the hyena isn’t a true feline like the tiger, leopard, and domesticated cat, which all belong to the family of Felidae. Instead, the hyena belongs to a separate grouping that’s more closely related to the feline branch than the canine branch.

The order Carnivora to which the hyena belongs first began to appear around 50 to 60 million years ago. These early carnivores developed specialized teeth for ripping and tearing flesh. Based on a partial reconstruction of the fossil record, we know that some of them may have resembled a modern weasel and were adapted for tree climbing.

The early carnivores split up early into separate canine and feline lineages. Both branches went their separate ways, producing new and novel forms. Then around 30 million years ago, the feline lineage split off again into two major groups. One branch gave rise to the modern feline family. The other branch gave rise to hyenas, mongooses, and viverrids (like the Asian palm civet and the binturong).

Although they last shared a common ancestor some 30 million years ago, felines, hyenas, mongooses, and viverrids all fall within a single category that taxonomists now call the Feliformia.

How Are Hyenas Similar to Felines?

One defining trait that’s shared by nearly all members of Feliformia (cat-like carnivores) is the unique skeletal structure of the middle and inner ear. It’s a very small difference (just a matter of one or two bones), but its presence in nearly all Feliformia suggests that it probably evolved early on in the lineage and was then passed on to all descending species.

Another similarity between hyenas and felines is the very rough tongue, composed of similarly sharp spines or bristles to help strip the flesh off prey and also to help with grooming. You might be amused to discover that the hyena grooms itself with the tongue in much the same manner as a cat as well: sitting on its back, legs spread out and feet pointed upward.

How Do Hyenas Differ from Felines?

Hyenas differ from felines in many ways. One of the most important differences is the pack-like nature of their hunting strategy. While some species prefer to scavenge for leftover food, hyenas are also talented and diligent predators. Unlike felines, they are generally unable to climb trees or ambush prey, preferring to chase them along the ground and tear them apart with their teeth rather than their non-retractable claws.

The hunting strategy is also a reflection of its social structure. The basis of the hyena society is the clan, which can consist of 80 members at a time and sometimes even more. However, even though hyenas work in unison to take down prey, life within the clan is not exactly a cooperative affair. There is fierce competition both between clans and within clans, something not typically explored in groups of felines.

In Summation

So, are hyenas dogs? Definitely not. To sum up everything in this article, we can safely say that hyenas are more closely related to cats than dogs. However, this relationship is rather distant and remote. Hyenas had plenty of time to develop and evolve their own unique characteristics and traits, some of which are shared by a few other animals on the planet.