What animals are hyenas related to
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Hyenas and Their Relatives: An Evolutionary Perspective
Evolutionary Background of Hyenas
Hyenas belong to the family Hyaenidae, which currently includes four extant species: the aardwolf (Proteles cristata), the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), the brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea), and the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Despite the limited number of species, hyenas exhibit remarkable ecological and social diversity, surpassing that of larger families such as canids (dogs) and felids (cats).
Miocene Ancestors and Diversity
During the Late Miocene epoch, approximately 12 to 6 million years ago, the Hyaenidae family was much more diverse, with at least 24 different species coexisting across Eurasia and Africa. These ancient hyenas included both robust, bone-cracking species and more dog-like species in terms of appearance and feeding ecology. Over time, the family has declined in both species diversity and geographic range, now being confined to Africa and the Middle East.
Modern Hyena Species and Their Habitats
The four living hyena species occupy a wide range of habitats, from deserts and montane forests to open savannas, and they fill various ecological niches, from specialized insectivores to large predators. All modern hyenas are largely nocturnal and share physical characteristics such as shorter hind legs compared to their forelegs, giving them a distinctive sloping body profile. They communicate through a combination of erecting their manes and tails, facial expressions, and chemical signals from anal scent glands.
Social Structures and Comparisons to Primates
Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) exhibit complex social structures known as "clans," which are similar to those of cercopithecine primates like baboons and macaques in terms of size, hierarchical structure, and social interactions among both kin and non-kin. Unlike these primates, however, spotted hyenas are top-level predators that regularly hunt antelope and compete for access to kills, which are rich but ephemeral food sources. This unique combination of baboon-like sociality and predatory behavior has led to the evolution of many unusual traits in spotted hyenas.
Conclusion
Hyenas are fascinating creatures with a rich evolutionary history and complex social structures. Their closest relatives in the animal kingdom are not immediately obvious due to their unique adaptations and behaviors. However, their evolutionary lineage places them within the broader context of mammalian carnivores, with historical ties to a diverse array of species that once roamed the earth. Understanding the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of hyenas provides valuable insights into their current behaviors and social systems.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Hyena societies
Hyenas and Humans in the Horn of Africa*
Society, demography and genetic structure in the spotted hyena
Extended and Continuous Decline in Effective Population Size Results in Low Genomic Diversity in the World’s Rarest Hyena Species, the Brown Hyena
Genome-Wide Analyses Provide Insights into the Scavenging Lifestyle of the Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena).
Spotted hyenas ( Crocuta crocuta ) follow migratory prey. Seasonal expansion of a clan territory in Etosha, Namibia
Pollen analysis of present-day striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) scats from central Iran: Implications for dryland paleoecology and animal paleoethology
Behavioural structuring of relatedness in the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) suggests direct fitness benefits of clan‐level cooperation
Genetic relatedness and space use in two populations of striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena)
Social Facilitation, Affiliation, and Dominance in the Social Life of Spotted Hyenas a
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