Fauna
Mammal · GBIF taxon 5218777

Striped Hyena

Hyaena hyaena

Also known as Striped Hyaena

Striped hyenas patrol arid scrublands and rocky deserts under the cover of night, using scent-marking from anal pouches to establish expansive home ranges. Unlike their social spotted cousins, these scavengers forage mostly alone, utilizing acute hearing and a keen sense of smell to locate carrion, small prey, and fallen fruit. When threatened, they raise a dramatic dorsal mane that doubles their apparent size to deter potential rivals and predators.

NocturnalScavengerSolitary
Striped Hyena reference1 / 7
Licensed referenceTisha Mukherjee / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Carrion
  • Rodents
  • Melons
Predators
  • Tiger
  • Lion
  • Leopard
ThreatsTargeted poisoning, illegal hunting, habitat loss, roadkill
HabitatsArid scrublands, semi-deserts, open woodlands, rocky hills
Life span12–15 years in the wild
Classification
  1. FamilyHyaenidae
  2. SpeciesHyaena hyaena
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Has bone-crushing jaw strength; maintain a safe distance and do not approach dens or feeding sites.
Why it is dangerous
Possesses immense jaw strength capable of crushing large bones, which can cause severe injury if threatened.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by vertical dark stripes on a pale coat, pointed ears, a bushy tail, and a high-shouldered sloped back.
What to do
Freeze and back away slowly if encountered at close range. Do not approach dens or disturb active feeding sites.
What to notice
Medium-sized nocturnal carnivore with a distinct erectable dorsal mane and black throat patch.
Support conservation
Avoid revealing specific den coordinates on social media or public forums to protect local breeding pairs.
Responsible observation
  • Night observations: Look for their distinctive high-shouldered profile along dry riverbeds or rocky tracks after dusk.
  • Keep distance: Never corner or approach an individual, as their jaws generate enormous bone-snapping pressure.
  • Secure livestock: Avoid leaving domestic animal carcasses unsecured, which draws hyenas close to human settlements.
Related species
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