Question 1

True or false: Hyenas are solitary animals that only meet to mate.

Accepted Answer

False. Hyenas are highly social, living in clans with complex hierarchies, unlike the solitary myth.

Question 2

True or false: Hyenas primarily scavenge for food and rarely hunt live prey.

Accepted Answer

False. Spotted hyenas are skilled hunters, taking down 70-95% of their own prey; scavenging is secondary.

Question 3

True or false: A group of spotted hyenas is called a clan, which can contain up to 80 individuals.

Accepted Answer

True. Spotted hyena clans are large matriarchal groups; some clans have over 80 members.

Question 4

True or false: Hyena laughter is a sign of amusement or joy.

Accepted Answer

False. Hyena giggles signal submission, excitement, or frustration, not happiness—it’s a social communication tool.

Question 5

True or false: All hyena species are native only to Africa.

Accepted Answer

False. The striped hyena also inhabits parts of the Middle East, India, and Central Asia, not just Africa.

Question 6

True or false: Hyenas are more closely related to cats than to dogs.

Accepted Answer

True. Hyenas belong to the Feliformia suborder, making them genetically closer to cats, despite their dog-like appearance.

Question 7

True or false: Female spotted hyenas have a pseudopenis, a rare trait in mammals.

Accepted Answer

True. Female spotted hyenas give birth and urinate through an enlarged clitoris that resembles a penis, a unique adaptation.

Question 8

True or false: Hyenas have one of the strongest bite forces in the animal kingdom.

Accepted Answer

True. Spotted hyenas can crush bones with a bite force of about 1,100 psi, stronger than lions.

Hyena Trivia Questions