Hyenas are known for their cackling laugh and scary appearance in movies. Some people think they’re evil and mean, but nothing could be further from the truth. These amazing animals have some of the most intriguing social behaviors of any mammal on earth. Hyenas are related to cats, dogs, and bears (yes, pandas are also members of the bear family). They’re unique because they’re the only species of carnivore that is a browser rather than a hunter. Instead of preying on smaller animals, hyenas eat almost exclusively grass and plant matter. That may not seem very exciting compared to all the other cool things pandas can do, but it’s still pretty neat! Read on to learn more about hyenas and how fast they can run.
How Fast Can A Hyena Run
- The fastest hyena is the Desert Hyena (Hyaena brunnea). These animals live in deserts, grasslands, and rocky areas of Africa. They’re also called brown hyenas because they have brown fur and a tan muzzle. The average maximum speed of a Desert Hyena is 106 mph (171 km/h).
- The second fastest hyena is the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). These animals are found in woodlands and savannahs across sub-Saharan Africa. Their coat varies in color from dark to light brown or gray, with white spots on their rumps and ears. They’re much smaller than the Desert Hyena, weighing around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
- The third fastest hyena is the laughing hyena. These animals are found in grasslands and savannahs of Africa, Southern Asia, and parts of Arabia. They have a broad muzzle and dark brown fur with black patches on their necks and rumps. They’re much smaller than the other two species, weighing around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
- The fourth fastest hyena is the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena). These animals are found in grasslands and savannahs of Africa, Southern Asia, and parts of Arabia. Their coat varies from gray to brown or black to light gray with white stripes on their rumps and necks. They’re much smaller than the other three species, weighing around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
- The fifth fastest hyena is in the savannahs of Africa and Southern Asia. They have dark brown coats with white stripes on their rumps, backs, and around their eyes. They’re much smaller than the other three species, weighing around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
- The fifth fastest hyena is the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). These animals are found in woodlands and savannahs across sub-Saharan Africa. Their coat varies in color from dark to light brown or gray, with white spots on their rumps and ears. They’re much smaller than the other three species, weighing around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
Why Are Hyenas So Fast?
- The fifth fastest hyena is the long-haired hyena (Hyaena brunnea). These animals are found in grasslands and savannahs across sub-Saharan Africa and Arabia. Their coat varies in color from dark gray to light gray with reddish tips on their ears and rumps. They’re much smaller than the other four species, weighing around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
- The sixth fastest hyena is the spotted hyena and savannahs of Africa, Southern Asia, and parts of Arabia. They have a thin black-and-white striped coat with white fur on their rumps, ears, and muzzles. They’re much smaller than the other three species, weighing around 20 pounds (9 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
- The fifth fastest hyena is the laughing jackal. These animals are found in grassland and savannahs of Africa and Southern Asia. They have a thin black-and-white striped coat with white fur on their rumps, ears, and muzzles. They’re much smaller than the other four species, weighing around 20 pounds (9 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
- The sixth fastest hyena is the striped lynx (Lynx r, savannah, and desert areas of Africa, Arabia, and Southern Asia. They have dark brown coats with white stripes on their rumps and legs. They’re much smaller than the other three species, weighing around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
- The fifth fastest hyena is the spotted hyena (Hyaena ssp.). These animals are found in the woodlands, grasslands, and savannahs of Africa. Their coats vary in color from dark to light brown or gray, with white spots on their rumps and ears. They’re much smaller than the other four species; they weigh around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
- The sixth fastest hyena is the striped hyena (Hyaena Senegal and savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa. Their coats vary in color from dark to light brown, with stripes on their rumps, backs, and tails. They’re much smaller than the other three species, weighing around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyenas.
- The fifth fastest hyena is the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). These animals are found in grasslands and savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa. Their coats vary in color from dark to light brown or gray, with white spots on their rumps and ears. They’re much smaller than the other four species, weighing around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
- The fifth fastest hyena is the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena). These animals are found in grassland and savannahs of Africa, Southern Asia, and parts of Arabia. They’re very closely related to the spotted hyenas, but they have light brown coats with darker stripes on their backs.
- The sixth fastest hyena is the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena). These animals are found in grassland and savannahs of Africa, Southern Asia, and parts of Arabia. They’re very closely related to the spotted hyenas, but they have light brown coats with darker stripes on their backs.
Why Are Hyenas So Strong?
- The fifth fastest hyena is the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). These animals are found in woodlands and savannahs across sub-Saharan Africa. Their coat varies in color from dark to light brown or gray, with white spots on their rumps and ears. They’re much smaller than the other three species, weighing around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
- The sixth fastest hyena is the striped hyena and savannahs across sub-Saharan Africa. They have dark brown coats with black stripes on their rumps, necks, and ears. They’re much smaller than the other three species, weighing around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
- The fifth fastest hyena is the spotted hyena (Hyaena brunnescens). These animals are found in woodlands and savannahs of Africa, Southern Asia, and parts of Arabia. They have dark brown coats with white spots on their rumps and necks. They’re much smaller than the other four species, weighing around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyena.
- The sixth fastest hyena is the striped hyena (Hyaena striata). These animals are found in forest habitats of Africa, Southern Asia, and parts of Arabia. They have a reddish-brown coat with pale brown stripes along their backs and rumps.
- The fifth fastest hyena is the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). These animals are found in woodlands and savannahs across sub-Saharan Africa. Their coat varies in color from dark to light brown or gray, with white spots on their rumps and ears. They’re much smaller than the Desert Hyena, weighing around 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg) compared to 80 pounds (36 kg) for a full-grown adult Desert Hyenas.
- The sixth fastest hyena is the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena). These animals are found in grassland and forest habitats of Africa, Southern Asia, and parts of Arabia. They have a reddish-brown coat with pale brown stripes along their backs and rumps.
Conclusion
All of these traits have made hyenas very successful animals. They are found across Africa and Asia and are the only survivors of an ancient lineage of carnivores. They have survived for millions of years and continue to thrive today. Hyenas have become famous for their cackling laughs and scary appearance in movies. Despite this, they have some of the most intriguing social behaviors of any mammal on earth. They’re also super fast and strong!