Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
A powerful, spotted African hunter that lives in female-led clans and has some of the strongest jaws of any mammal.
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About the Spotted Hyena
Spotted hyenas are the largest hyenas, about 2.5 feet tall and 4.5 feet long. Males weigh 100 to 130 pounds, and females are bigger. Their front legs are longer than their back legs, so their backs slope down, and they can gallop up to 31 miles per hour. They live across sub-Saharan Africa in savannas, semi-deserts and mountain forests, and hunt wildebeest, zebras, gazelles and more.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Crocuta crocuta[1]
- Size
- About 2.5 feet tall and 4.5 feet long.[1]
- Weight
- Males 100 to 130 pounds; females larger.[1]
- Lifespan
- About 20 years in the wild.[1]
- Diet
- Carnivore. Wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, buffalo, warthogs and carrion.[1]
- Habitat
- Savanna, semi-desert, acacia bush and mountain forest.[1]
- Where it lives
- Sub-Saharan Africa.[1]
- Group life
- Clans of 3 to 100, led by females. Mostly nocturnal.[1]
- Babies
- Usually two cubs.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2014).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- clan
- A large family group of hyenas.
- matriarchal
- Led by females.
- predator
- An animal that hunts other animals for food.
- carrion
- The meat of an animal that is already dead.
- least concern
- A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.
See it in person
- Oakland ZooOakland, California · African SavannaSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] Oakland Zoo. “Spotted Hyena.” https://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/spotted-hyena/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Crocuta crocuta (Spotted Hyaena).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/5674/45194782 (accessed 2026-10-02)
Facts last checked 2026-10-02.