How to identify spotted hyena
- Rounded ears
- Dark spots on a sandy coat
- Sloping back and powerful neck
Do not identify from one clue alone.
Distance, age, sex, season and light can change an animal’s appearance. Combine several visible features and keep “not sure” as a valid answer.
Behaviour and habitat
What you may notice
Lives in female-led clans
What you may notice
Both hunts and scavenges
What you may notice
Can travel widely and is not only nocturnal
Where it fits
Savanna, woodland and grassland.
What can it be confused with?
Brown hyenas have pointed ears, a long shaggy coat and pale leg stripes rather than rounded ears and distinct spots.
View it responsibly
Do not feed or lure a hyena. Keep food secured at camps and observe road-crossing animals without pursuing them.
Location protection applies.
Wild This Way withholds or generalises sensitive wildlife positions. Never add a road number, landmark or exact pin to a public post.