The spotted hyena is actually more closely related to the domestic cat than any species of dog.
There are four species of hyena: the spotted hyena, the striped hyena, the brown hyena, and the aardwolf. All of them appear vaguely doglike, but none of them are that closely related to dogs.
They hyenas closest relatives are civets and genets. In fact, the primitive looking aardwolf, which lives largely on termites, was once thought to be a species of civet. The civets and genets, the mongooses (including the meerkat), the carnivorous genet and mongooselike animals of Madagascar, the African palm civets, and the cats all represent the Feliform suborder to the larger order Carnivora. The hyenas are in this group, which represents this evolutionary relationship.
The other suborder is the Caniform suborder. In this suborder are dogs, bears, the red panda, skunks and stink badgers, the weasels (including mink, otters, badgers, ferrets, the fisher and marten species, and the wolverine), raccoons (which includes the ringtail, the coati, and the kinkajou), and the pinniped species, the eared seals, the true seals, and the walrus. (Pinnipeds are often considered in their own order, but the consensus is that they are part of Carnivora.)
Both of these suborders represent the evolutionary relationship between the members of this order. Some these families have been split over time. Once skunks were considered part of the weasel family, but now, they and the Southeast Asian stink badgers are classified together. The red panda has been classified as a bear and raccoon, but now it is included in its own family. It is believed to more closely related to weasel and skunk families than to the bear and raccoon family.
Hyenas are one of my favorite animals, they’re so strange! Their social system and biology is so very different from dogs, it’s only because of their similar shape that people get confused.
hyenas are awwwwsomeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hyenas arent a canine . they included in civet family. They closely related to mongooses, civets weasels, otters ,etc.
No. Hyenas are their own family. They are closely related to civets (family Viverridae).
Mongooses are somewhat closely related to Viverrids, but they are in their own family Herpestidae. Malagasy carnivorans are most closely relate to Herpestidae, including the fossa and the so-called Malagasy civet. There are also some odds and ends. The African palm civet is in its own family, and the Asiatic linsangs are actually more closely related to cats than any other family in Carnivora.
All of these animals are Feliformia– they are related to cats.
Weasels and otters are in Mustelidae. Mustelidae is part of Caniformia. They are more closely related to dogs.
Oh. I thought they were like dogs.
Sorry, Hyenas are dogs. I do not care what you say. Evolution is a theory and has never been proven. Hyenas are not cats, and are not related to ferrets, weasels, civets, are any other animal. They are dogs plain and simple. If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck its a duck. Weasels, ferrets, civets, mongoose etc., do not look like dogs. Rest my case. Hyenas are dogs.
You are an idiot.
You are confusing theory with hypothesis or guess. I wish we’d drop the idiom that goes “It’s just as theory” when we make a guess.
I bet you think thylacines were just dogs with pouches.
You don’t understand that DNA shows where hyenas fit. DNA shows us that evolution is unbelievably true, for it shows common descent far more readily than the always incomplete fossil record.
Hyenas and dogs are not like cars. They don’t have the same design. Have you ever seen a female dog with a pseudo-penis anyway?
I guess you didn’t read the comment guidelines about creationism.
Well, you got your one comment in, and the internet will forever know that you’re a dumb ass.
And because you didn’t read the comment guidelines, we are going to make fun of you on the blog as punishment for your stupidity and desire to correct me with the weakest evidence for creation I’ve ever seen anyone give me.
Kent Hovind would be calling you an idiot right now.
That’s how stupid you are.
“Evolution is a theory & has never been proven”.
REALLY? Do you know what the scientific definition of “theory” is? Do you know what “hypothesis” means? Have you ever heard of a little thing called the scientific method?
Go do a little research on those three concepts. Until then, I would advise you not to flash your appalling ignorance around in public. People might think you’re a moron.
wright… you sound like an idiot – you must be an idiot!
I had a hyena (striped) for 12 years. She grew up in the house with the dogs, learned to be house clean, to walk on a leash, to ride in the car, and much more. She was not at all like a dog in her behavior or reactions, and other than superficially, did not really look like a dog. She was a fascinating animal, intelligent, manipulative, and affectionate to me – but definitely not a dog!
Fascinating! I’d love to see photos!
Stiped hyenas are pretty common pets in some parts of the Middle East.
Here are some tame ones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L86ZKUKiiQs
[…] Some of them have never generated particularly good comments, and this particular one, which is not particularly profound or well-writen, is simply entitled “Hyenas are not dogs. They are actually more closely related to cats.“ […]
I love hyena especially stripped hyenas. So beautiful I remember seeing a documentary on them.
Wow so Evolution is wrong? lol
If you do not care what this person say why do you comment here just leave the blog and never comment?
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