Are Hyenas More Closely Related to Cats Than Dogs?

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Are Hyenas more closely related to cats than dogs?

 

Answer

Check out this answer from Consensus:

The synthesis of the research indicates that hyenas are more closely related to cats than to dogs.

This is evidenced by their classification within the Feliformia suborder, the similarity of their immunoglobulins to those of cats, and certain unique placental features that set them apart from both cats and dogs.

Hyenas are Carnivorous Mammals

Hyenas are a unique group of carnivorous mammals that have intrigued researchers due to their distinct biological characteristics and evolutionary relationships. The question of whether hyenas are more closely related to cats or dogs has been explored through various studies.

Hyenas Share Placental Characteristics With Dogs & Cats

  • Hyenas share some placental characteristics with both dogs and cats, such as the retention of a large allantois and a medium-sized yolk sac, but they have a unique hemochorial villous placenta, which is structurally more similar to that of New World monkeys than to other carnivores 1 4.
  • Genetic studies have identified hyenas as the sister group to cats, placing them within the Feliformia, a suborder that includes cat-like carnivores, and indicating a closer evolutionary relationship to cats than to dogs 2.
  • Immunological research has shown that domestic cats are the closest phylogenetic relatives of hyenas that have been studied in detail, with hyena immunoglobulins being similar to feline immunoglobulins, further supporting the closer relationship to cats 3.

 

Are Hyenas more closely related to cats than dogs?

Sarah Benhaiem has answered: Near Certain

An expert from Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Widlife Research in Ecology, Ethology, Evolutionary Biology

Batman is correct! Do not trust the appearances: hyenas are more closely related to cats than to dogs, despite their vague resemblance with some canids. The four hyena species (spotted hyena, brown hyena, striped hyena and aardwolf) belong the family Hyaenidae, within the suborder Feliformia (which includes cats), itself within the order Carnivora. Dogs, foxes and wolves also belong to the order Carnivora, but are within the suborder Caniformia.

Are Hyenas more closely related to cats than dogs?

Christine Drea has answered: Near Certain

An expert from Duke University in Zoology, Ecology

Hyenas are members of their own family (Hyenidae), of which there are only four living species (spotted hyenas, brown hyenas, striped hyenas, and aardwolves). They indeed group with the ‘cat branch’ (Feloidea) of the order Carnivora, not with the ‘dog branch’ (Canoidea). So the closest living relatives of hyenas include cats, mongooses, Malagasy mongooses, viverrids (e.g. civets, genets, the binturong…), and the African palm civet.

 

Are Hyenas more closely related to cats than dogs?

Ned Place has answered: Near Certain

An expert from Cornell University in Veterinary Science

The simple answer is that hyenas are more closely related to cats than dogs. Of course, hyenas, cats and dogs are mammals (Class: Mammalia) and all are carnivores (Order: Carnivora), but whereas hyenas and cats belong to the Suborder: Feliformia, dogs belong to a different Suborder: Caniformia. And while cats and hyenas are within the same suborder, they are members of different Families: Felidae and Hyaenidae.

 

Are Hyenas more closely related to cats than dogs?

Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo has answered: Near Certain

An expert from Flinders University in Evolutionary Biology, Genomics, Conservation Science

Hyenas are part of the Order Carnivora together with cats and dogs, but hyenas and cat are part of the Suborder Feliformia. A few genetic analyses have shown that cats and hyenas share a more recent commune ancestor, and, therefore, they are closer related. More interesting, hyenas are closer related with mongooses than can and dogs.

 

Are Hyenas more closely related to cats than dogs?

Darrell Ricke has answered: Near Certain

An expert from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Genomics, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Genetics, Molecular Biology

Hyenas share the suborder Feliformia with cats but the higher level Carnivora with both cats and dogs. By taxonomy, hyenas are closer to cats than dogs.

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