African wild dog vs hyena is an age-old rivalry.
These two foes may seem similar – and do share several characteristics – yet the social pack predators also differ in many ways.
Often overshadowed by Africa’s famous felines, both wild dogs and hyenas are complex creatures that play vital roles in their ecosystems.
Relations between the two are no laughing matter, though. Wild dogs and hyenas compete for food and resources, with encounters sometimes turning violent.
Whether you need a hand telling them apart or want to know who’d emerge victorious in an African wild dog vs hyena fight, read on to learn all about these enigmatic predators.
Meet the African Wild Dog
In the Red Corner, we have the African wild dog, sometimes called the painted dog or Cape hunting dog.
With long legs and blotchy coat patterns, these medium-sized canines prowl parts of sub-Saharan Africa in packs.
Known for their highly coordinated hunting tactics, painted dogs may be ruthless predators, yet they have a caring and cooperative social life.
Once widespread throughout the continent, African wild dogs have disappeared from 25 of the 39 countries they once inhabited and are classified as endangered. Experts estimate there are just 3000-5000 individuals left, mainly in Southern Africa.
Meet the Hyena
In the Blue Corner, we have the hyena.
There are four living hyena species, from the solitary brown hyena to the scavenging striped hyena and insectivorous aardwolf.
However, say the name ‘hyena’ and most people think of the largest and most common species: the spotted hyena. With its characteristic cackling, it’s also earned the nickname ‘laughing hyena’.
To keep things simple, we’ll stick to the spotted hyena for this wild dog comparison.
Spotted hyenas are Africa’s most common large carnivores, ranging widely through much of sub-Saharan Africa.
Powerful rather than elegant, with shaggy fur, large heads and a loping gait, they’re certainly unusual looking but are often (unfairly) called ugly!
Spotted hyenas, like wild dogs, live in large packs, or ‘clans’, which are female dominated.
A Dog Fight? Not Quite
Are African wild dogs and hyenas related?
To the untrained eye, they look similar, with large ears and long snouts. Behaviourally, they share some similarities, too, living in large groups and wearing down prey with superior stamina.
Yet the two aren’t closely related at all.
As the name suggests, African wild dogs are canines. They descended from a wolf ancestor, although they’re far older than domestic dogs and have never been tamed or domesticated.
Painted dogs have more in common with African jackals and dholes, an Asian wild dog.
Hyenas are in their own family, Hyaenidae. More broadly, they’re considered ‘cat-like’ carnivorans, and are evolutionarily closer to felines than canines.
Hyenas’ closest living relative may surprise you – the mongoose!
African Wild Dog vs Hyena Behaviour
African wild dogs live in packs ranging from around 7-15 members, and sometimes up to 40 or more. They stay on the move, roaming huge territories in search of food.
Packs are led by a dominant pair, though every member plays a valuable role. Unusually for social carnivores, males stay with their birth pack while females disperse and find another.
Spotted hyenas live in groups, or clans, of 6-100 or more individuals. Their complex social hierarchies are dominated by the larger and more aggressive females.
Unlike wild dogs, it’s the males who disperse while the females stay with their birth clan.
A softer side?
Antelope would disagree, but African wild dogs might be one of the ‘nicest’ animals – at least to their own kind.
There’s little aggression between members of the pack, who all chip in when it comes to childcare. Juveniles are allowed to eat first at kills, and females tend to sick and elderly pack members, even regurgitating food for them.
Hyenas aren’t quite so gentle, with high-ranking members maintaining their position either through aggression, or via cunning coalitions.
African Wild Dog vs Hyena Speed
Hyenas and wild dogs aren’t going to outpace a cheetah in a sprint, although both have an impressive turn of speed.
Spotted hyenas can reach at least 60 km/h (37 mph). African wild dogs are a touch faster, with a top speed of 70 km/h (44 mph).
However, stamina is where these endurance athletes really shine.
Painted dogs can maintain a speed of around 40 km/h for five kilometres, outlasting and exhausting prey animals.
Spotted hyenas may look ungainly, but they can also pursue prey for several kilometres without tiring. Their heart is, proportionally, twice as large as a lion’s!
Hunting vs Scavenging
African wild dogs are adept hunters. In fact, they’re one of the most successful predators in the world, with an 85% hunting success rate.
Stamina is a big reason for this success. By tiring out their prey, painted dogs can wear down powerful herbivores like zebras, blue wildebeest, kudu, and many medium-sized antelope.
Coordination and cooperation are also key. Each pack member takes on a certain role, with subordinate males separating the target, the pack leader running down the prey, and the others fanning out to cover escape routes.
The dogs nip and tear at the victim with their teeth, tiring it out before converging on the exhausted animal.
Not just scavengers
Many people think of hyenas as simply scavengers. When it comes to spotted hyenas, that’s a misconception.
As mentioned, they’re effective pursuit predators. Spotted hyenas frequently hunt alone, although they have a better success rate – and take down larger prey – when the clan works together.
That doesn’t mean hyenas don’t scavenge. These opportunists boast exceptional hearing and smell and will happily follow their senses to other predators’ kills.
This is one major reason for the ‘bad blood’ between wild dogs and hyenas. Hyenas shadow painted dog packs and frequently steal either part, or all, of their meal.
Lone hyenas might try and sneak off with a snack, while a group of giggling hyenas often forces the whole dog pack off the kill.
When it’s time to eat, hyenas’ powerful, bone-crushing jaws make quick work of a carcass.
The Weigh-In: African Wild Dog vs Hyena Size
There’s a reason combat sports have weight divisions, but no one’s refereeing this savanna showdown.
African wild dogs are the largest canines on the continent, standing up to 75 cm tall at the shoulders and weighing up to 36 kg, though most are between 20-30 kg.
Spotted hyenas stand up to 90 cm at the shoulder but are much more powerfully-built, usually ranging from 40-60 kg with the largest individuals reaching 90 kg.
Male painted dogs, like most mammals, are slightly larger than females on average. Unusually, female hyenas are larger than males.
African Wild Dog vs Hyena: Who Would Win in a Fight?
Based on size, strength and more powerful jaws, a spotted hyena would almost certainly come out on top versus a single painted dog.
However, there’s no such thing as a ‘fair fight’ in nature, so results aren’t as predictable.
Hyena clans can be huge, but individuals spend most of their time in smaller groups. If the cunning canines can isolate one or two animals then they can harass the hyenas and drive them off.
If the hyenas are out in full force, though, they have a clear advantage.
Real life encounters
African wild dog populations are lower in areas with high hyena populations, suggesting that hyenas dominate the smaller canines.
Wild dogs eat quickly, demolishing an antelope in a matter of minutes. That’s not always quick enough.
If a hyena clan strays onto the scene, it’s usually bad news for the dogs, who will back down unless they have a strong numbers advantage. Spotted hyenas have even been known to kill wild dogs.
Shared enemy
There’s no love lost between hyenas and wild dogs. However, both species have perhaps an even more hated foe – the lion.
Lions scavenge from painted dogs and spotted hyenas, using their bulk to bully the smaller carnivores off their kills.
Wild dogs are outmuscled by hyenas, let alone the much larger lion, so fleeing is the only sensible choice.
The ‘king of the jungle’ doesn’t stop at scavenging – lions will kill cubs and adults alike if the cats catch them.
Spotted hyenas are a little bolder and sometimes take on the big cats, especially with a numbers advantage.
Lions tend to get the better of encounters, though. Male lions, with their superior size, are more partial to a fight and will target and kill hyenas to reduce competition over resources.
Spot Wild Dogs & Hyenas on Safari
Heading out on an African safari gives you a chance of grabbing a front row seat to any African wild dog vs hyena interactions.
However, seeing a showdown of these two species is unlikely. Even a wild dog sighting is rare, given their endangered status and elusive nature.
While there are certainly some similarities, from social living to pursuit hunting, hyenas and wild dogs have many unique characteristics. Both play important roles in their ecosystem, even if they’re not admired like big cats or huge herbivores.
Spotted hyenas can be seen throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, with Kenya, Tanzania, or South Africa being some of the best places to ‘spot’ them.
Botswana and Zambia are strongholds for the scarce wild dog.
