What is Hyaena?
{{Automatic Taxobox | fossil_range = {{fossil range|Pliocene|Present}} | image = Iena Striata.JPG | image_caption = [[Striped hyena]] | taxon = Hyaenidae | authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1821 | type_genus = ''[[Hyaena (genus)|Hyaena]]'' | type_genus_authority = [[Mathurin Jacques Brisson|Brisson]], 1762 | subdivision_ranks = [[Genus|Genera]] | subdivision = * ''[[Crocuta]]'' (olive overlay on map) * ''[[Hyaena (genus)|Hyaena]]'' (blue on map) * ''[[Proteles]]'' (magenta red on map) * ''[[Adcrocuta]]''† * ''[[Allohyaena]]''† * ''[[Belbus]]''† * ''[[Chasmaporthetes]]''† * ''[[Herpestides]]''† * ''[[Hyaenictis]]''† * ''[[Hyaenotherium]]''† * ''[[Ictitherium]]''† * ''[[Ikelohyaena]]''† * ''[[Leecyaena]]''† * ''[[Lycyaena]]''† * ''[[Metahyaena]]''† * ''[[Miohyaenotherium]]''† * ''[[Palinhyaena]]''† * ''[[Pachycrocuta]]''† * ''[[Pliocrocuta]]''† * ''[[Plioviverrops]]''† * ''[[Protictitherium]]''† * ''[[Thalassictis]]''† * ''[[Tongxinictis]]''† * ''[[Tungurictis]]''† * ''[[Werdelinus]]''† | range_map = Hyaenidae_range.png }} '''Hyaenas''' (sometimes '''''Hyenas''''') are [[mammal]]s. They are the [[family (biology)|family]] '''Hyaenidae''', in the [[Order (biology)|order]] [[Carnivora]]. They live in [[Africa]], and in west and south [[Asia]]. In the past they had a much wider distribution. Now there are two subfamilies with four [[species]]. With only four species, it is the fourth-smallest family in the Carnivora, and one of the smallest in the class [[Mammalia]].<ref name=Rose>Rosevear D.R. 1974. ''The carnivores of West Africa''. London: British Museum (Natural History), p341{{ndash}}4. {{ISBN|0565007238}}</ref> Despite their low diversity, hyenas are unique and vital components to most [[Africa]]n and some [[Asia]]n ecosystems.<ref name=Mills>Mills, Gus & Hofer, Heribert 1998. ''Hyaenas: status survey and conservation action plan''. IUCN/SSC Hyena Specialist Group. {{ISBN|2-8317-0442-1}}</ref> Hyaena walk much like [[bears]] because their front legs are longer than their back. Except for the [[aardwolf]]