Spotted hyenas are known for their powerful physique, featuring strong necks and shoulders, longer forelegs, and rounded rumps. They possess large, rounded ears and a sloping face with a short muzzle. Their formidable teeth can easily crush bone, hooves, and horns.

With large hearts, they boast remarkable endurance, capable of running long distances to outlast prey. Females are generally 10% larger than males, with adult weights ranging from 89-153lbs, though some can reach 180-200lbs. Their body length spans from 95–165.8 cm, with shoulder heights of 70–91.5 cm.

Hyenas typically have dark brown eyes, but eye color can vary in roleplay. Cubs are born dark-colored without spots, but develop their distinctive markings and lighter fur within two months. 

Within roleplay, they are born with their pelt colors but markings/spots will come in over that two months.

Cubs

Spotted hyena cubs are born in litters of 2 to 4, with open eyes and a full set of teeth. They rely on their mother's milk for over a year, starting to eat meat around 5 months old. First-time mothers face high mortality rates due to narrow birth canals.

Cubs are typically born in separate natal dens, away from the clan's communal den, and introduced to the clan after a few weeks. These dens, often made by other animals, provide protection from predators.

At birth, cubs display dominance and aggression. In larger litters, weaker cubs may be bullied away from food and starve. By one year old, cubs begin learning to hunt as adolescents.

Vocal Communication

Spotted Hyenas have an array of sounds they use to communicate. Groans, growls, lows, yells, screams, rumbles, whoops and the all too famous Hyena's giggle.

Alarm rumble
Typically used to indicate danger such as lions and humans. Submissive hyenas have been known to use this rumble as a sort of "mock alarm" near carcasses to scare the other hyenas away in order to steal away a bit more food.

Whoop
Sounds like ooo-WHOOP! Can be heard over 5 kilometers (3 miles) away, and can be used to identify individual hyenas. Whoops can be used to rally clan members to defend food resources, territory boundaries, and the communal den. Whoops are also used by mothers to locate their cubs, and some use it to recruit hunting partners.

Whoops also get used as a form of individual display, commonly by those of higher ranks. Adult male's whoop more frequently than females, and top-ranking males put more effort into vocal displays than lower-ranking males to perhaps reassert their dominance.

Cubs can whoop a few hours after their birth, to signal distress to their mother, they can also softly squeal as a greeting.

Lowing
Lowing is a vocalization that functions to bring all hyena within earshot to a state of hype to engage in a coordinated attack, generally against lions trying to eat off the hyenas' kill.

Laugh/Giggle
A common staple of the spotted hyena is their iconic laugh or giggle. Which serve various communication purposes A signal of submission, when threatened, under attack, or even frustration. 

During an encounter where a group of hyenas confronts lions over a carcass, a series of vocalizations occur. A whoop serves to call additional hyenas for assistance, while a giggle expresses nervousness, and a low rallys nearby hyenas to join in the action. These vocalizations work together to coordinate the group's response.

Body language

Lions
Lions pose a significant threat to hyenas, despite not actively preying on them for food. Both species inhabit the same regions in Africa and compete for the same prey, fueling a hostile relationship. Lions, being larger and stronger, often attack and kill hyenas when encountered alone or in small groups. Conversely, hyenas will mob lionesses, especially if there's a chance for a meal, using vocalizations and coordinated attacks to gain the upper hand.

Lions and hyenas are fierce competitors due to their shared prey preferences. Lions, being significantly larger, often dominate kills of larger animals. However, groups of hyenas can use teamwork to intimidate lions and steal their kills. Conversely, lions have learned to recognize hyena feeding calls and will chase them off prey. Surprisingly, abundant prey doesn't diminish hostility between the two species; instead, it often escalates rivalry and conflict.

In shared territories, lions and hyenas exhibit territorial behavior and aggressive tendencies towards each other. Lions have been observed killing hyena offspring, and incursions into hyena territory are met with swift and aggressive responses from the guardians. Territorial disputes are common, with one notable conflict in Ethiopia in April 1999 resulting in six lions and 35 hyenas dead after two weeks of intense fighting.

African Wild Dogs
A hyena may confront a lone wild dog to protect its cubs, but in a one-on-one fight, a hyena can deter a single wild dog. However, a pack of wild dogs poses a significant threat, as they can overpower and seriously injure or kill a single hyena. In such brutal attacks, hyena clans may not always intervene, depending on factors like the individual hyena's status and the clan's strength. While hyenas may attempt to steal kills from wild dogs, they do so cautiously, knowing that a well-supported pack of wild dogs can overpower them.

Humans
Humans are typically perceived as threats rather than prey by hyenas. While hyenas are more inclined to flee than attack humans, they may resort to killing and consuming sleeping humans if given the opportunity.

Unfortunately, due to their reputation and conflicts with humans over livestock depredation, hyenas often face persecution. In many rural areas of Africa, pastoralists use wire nooses to trap hyenas near their livestock corrals. Once caught, the hyenas are killed using spears or clubs.

In retaliation for livestock losses, some people resort to poisoning hyenas by lacing carcasses with fast-acting poison. This practice not only leads to the deaths of numerous hyenas but also risks inadvertently harming other carnivores in the area. Mass poisonings of hyenas have been documented in eastern Africa, highlighting the significant threat humans pose to hyena populations.

Hunting Strategies

Hyenas typically forage and hunt alone or in small groups of 2-5, only banding together when facing threats or defending food near the communal den. Known for their powerful teeth and jaws, hyenas can hold onto prey solely with their jaws, as seen in instances where they capture full-grown antelopes.

They hunt primarily at night, gathering in small parties of 2-3. Hyenas test herds by charging them and watching for weaknesses. Once prey is selected, they chase it relentlessly, targeting major blood vessels to incapacitate it. Coordinated groups often target wildebeest calves, with one hyena distracting the mother while others go for the calf.

Hyenas may also appear as lone wanderers before initiating a sudden attack on unsuspecting prey.

Illness and Diseases