| Hyena | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
Hyenas or hyaenas (from Ancient Greek ὕαινα, hýaina) are feliform carnivoran mammals of the family Hyaenidae /haɪˈɛnɪdiː/. The word comes from Middle English hiena which is borrowed from Latin hyaena which is from Ancient Greek ὕαινα huaina. It displaced the native Old English term nihtgenġe. With only four extant species (in three genera), it is the fifth-smallest biological family in the Carnivora, and one of the smallest in the class Mammalia. Despite their low diversity, hyenas are unique and vital components of most African ecosystems.
Description[]
hyena (spelled “hyaena” in some parts of the world) is Africa's most common large carnivore. There are three hyena species — spotted, brown, and striped. Spotted hyenas are the largest of the three. They are fairly large in build and have relatively short torsos with lower hindquarters, and sloping backs.