page_title: Brown hyena
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Brown hyena / Description
caption_attribution_description: English: Location taken: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Names: Hyaena brunnea Thunberg, 1820 Jentink, 1888., Barna hiéna, Bleiz broc'h gell, Brown hyaena, Brown Hyena, Bruine hyena, Brun hyena, Brun hyæne, Brunhyene, Buettikofer's Shrew, Büttikofer's forest shrew, Hiena bruna, Hiena brunatna, Hiena castanha, Hiena-castanha, Hyena čabraková, Hyena&lt;SP&gt;hnedá, Hyène brune, Kahverengi sırtlan, Parahyaena brunnea, Pruun vööthüään, Pruun-vööthüään, Qonur kaftar, Ruskohyeena, Schabrackenhyäne, Strandwolf, Striped and Brown Hyenas, Striped Hyena, Tééh łééchąąʼí ditsʼozígíí, Бурая гиена, Гієна бура, Смеђа хијена, צבוע חום, بھورا لگڑبھگا, ضبع بني, მენაპირე აფთარი, カッショクハイエナ, 갈색하이에 Classification: Animalia &gt; Chordata &gt;&lt;SP&gt;Mammalia &gt; Carnivora &gt; Hyaenidae &gt; Hyaena &gt; Hyaena brunnea.
context_page_description: The brown hyena, also called strandwolf, is a species of hyena found in Namibia, Botswana, western and southern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and South Africa. It is currently the rarest species of hyena. The largest remaining brown hyena population is located in the southern Kalahari Desert and coastal areas in Southwest Africa. The global population of brown hyena is estimated by IUCN at a number between 4,000 and 10,000 and its conservation status is marked as near threatened in the IUCN Red List.
context_section_description: Brown hyenas are distinguished from other species by their long shaggy dark brown coat, pointed ears, and short tail. Their legs are striped brown and white, and adults have a distinct cream-colored fur ruff around their necks. Erectile hairs up to 305 mm (12.0 in) in length cover the neck and back and bristles during agonistic behavior. Body length is 144 cm (57 in) on average with a range of 130–160 cm (51–63 in). Shoulder height is 70–80 cm (28–31 in) and the tail is 25–35 cm (9.8–13.8 in) long. Unlike the larger spotted hyena, there are no sizable differences between the sexes, although males may be slightly larger than females. An average adult male weighs 40.2–43.7 kg (89–96 lb), while an average female weighs 37.7–40.2 kg (83–89 lb). Brown hyenas have powerful jaws. Young animals can crack the leg bones of springboks within five minutes of birth, though this ability deteriorates with age and dental wear. The skulls of brown hyenas are larger than those of the more northern striped hyena, and their dentition is more robust, indicating a less generalized dietary adaptation.
caption: A skull at the National Museum of Natural History, National Mall in Washington, D.C.
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