Neither a dog or cat member, hyenas closest relative is the mongoose/meerkat. They have been around for 24 million years and are primarily nocturnal. Their long mane stands up when threatened or excited and helps them to appear bigger. Once thought to be solitary, new studies indicate striped hyenas live in small groups led by a dominant female.
Although not endangered, their numbers are declining - poisoning, traps and killing for body parts used in mistaken medicinal beliefs have been the main cause of its disappearance from some regions.
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