Description:

The striped hyenagoose (Gigamungos gigamungos) is a megafaunal species of mongoose that evolved to take the niche of hyena. These animals are the most traditional mammalian carnivore group in Africa. Due to the End-Epicene (10 million years hence) African extinction, hyenas went extinct in mainland Africa. The mongooses eventually took their role. The largest of these mongooses is the striped hyenagoose. They have a shoulder height of 90 to 100 centimeters and a weight of 90 to 100 kilograms. Most striped hyenagooses have brown and yellowish-brown with dark stripes on the back. These colors help them blend into the tall grasses and woodlands where they live. They also have longer legs for running down prey and long-distance travel. These mammals also have a long tail designed for balance. They usually live about 11 to 12 years in the wild, but 20 to 25 years in captivity.

Diet and Hunting Behavior:

These mammals are generalist carnivores. They hunt most of the vertebrate life that lives on the plains. The main animals they hunt are wildyraxes and jackalopes but occasionally take on larger prey. They will also eat carrion. 

These animals are ambush predators. Communication is key for these hunts, but they remain quiet so their prey doesn't run away. They use whistles and low grumbles so the prey does not hear them. Usually, a couple of hyenagooses chase the prey animal into another group that ambushes them. Once the prey gets cornered, the hyenagooses rip and tear at it. The prey animal usually dies from blood loss shortly after. These animals can crush bones, so most of the body gets eaten by the hyenagoose. They play a crucial role in the region as predators and common scavengers that clean off dead and decaying animals.

Distribution:

Striped hyenagooses are one of the most widespread animals in Africa. They found in the open grasslands, flooded grasslands, deserts, open woodland, and mountainous grasslands. They occasionally enter rainforests and coastal areas, but they tend to do poorly in these conditions.

Social Behavior:

Hyenagooses live in groups of up to 40 individuals. Unlike other large megafaunal predators, observations show that hyenagooses show no sex-based hierarchical nature to their pack structure. Relatively high amounts of aggression occur during estrous. Groups are often loose and ever-changing, with hyenagooses coming in and out of packs. New packs frequently form, with the hyenagooses gaining protection and having an easier time getting food. Unlike other carnivores, there are no restrictions on which hyenagooses can give birth. Hyenagooses do not show much altruism, and the mother and father raise the babies without much help. The male and female will leave the group to focus on their children. The baby hyenagooses sexually mature in about 2 years. Once hyenagooses reach sexual maturity, they leave their mother and father to form a pack.