African wild dogs vs hyenas: Who is the real overlord of the grassland?

In the survival competition on the African grasslands, the two "hardcore players" African wild dogs and hyenas are always confused. They both run on the grasslands, participate in hunting, and have "team spirit", but in fact, they are not the same kind of creatures at all. Today, let us compare African wild dogs vs. hyenas from the professional perspective of zoologists with a sense of humor!

1. Different genera The African Wild Dog (African Wild Dog) is scientifically named Lycaon pictus, which is a canine and is a relative of dogs and wolves; while the hyena (Hyena) belongs to the hyena family, which is a family independent of dogs and cats, and is closer to cats. Simply put, although it looks like a dog, the hyena is closer to a cat.

   
   

2. Appearance identificationAfrican wild dogs: slender body, long legs, big ears, colorful patterns on the body, like a body splashed with paint. Hyena: stout body, high shoulders, short hind legs, big mouth, back hair often stands up, and expression often has a "smirk".

   
   

3. Hunting methodAfrican wild dogs are masters of collaborative hunting, with a success rate of more than 80%, relying on super teamwork and endurance pursuit. Hyenas can also hunt, but they are better at "picking up leaks", such as stealing lions' food. But don't underestimate them, hyena groups can also hunt independently, and even hunt adult wildebeests.

   
   

4. Social structureAfrican wild dogs are standard "group pet" animals. The groups are extremely harmonious and take care of each other's injured members. The hyena community is clearly hierarchical, matriarchal, with the queen in power, females have a higher status than males, and fight more frequently.

   
   

5. Voice performanceThe African wild dog's call is high-pitched and sharp, like a bird's cry or a short cough; The hyena's call is the famous "ghost laugh", like the laugh in a horror movie, which is very recognizable.

In general, although African wild dogs and hyenas both play important roles on the African grasslands, their origins, behaviors, and ecological functions are significantly different. If African wild dogs are a tactical squad on the grassland, then hyenas are an organized special forces group that understands strategy and "makes trouble" at the right time.

So next time you watch a documentary, you might as well take a closer look to see who is hunting in an orderly manner and who is waiting for the opportunity with a sinister smile in the corner - distinguishing African wild dogs from hyenas is actually more interesting than you think!

animal tags： hyenas