The African wild dog is a social animal that lives in packs whereas hyenas live as individuals. They both hunt for food but the African wild dog hunts in packs while hyenas hunt alone.
African wild dogs hunt in groups. They are omnivorous and primarily eat prey such as zebras, gazelles, porcupines, and kudu. African wild dogs use their keen sense of smell to find prey. They will also feed on carrion, insects and larvae.
Hyenas are solitary hunters that live in clans called “clans”. They mainly feed on carcasses they scavenge from other predators or kill themselves by hunting small mammals like rodents or warthogs. Hyenas also consume fruits, berries, eggs, birds’ eggs and insects.
African wild dogs and hyenas are closely related but they have some major differences. Hyenas live in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East while African wild dogs are only found in Africa.
Hyenas are scavengers while African wild dogs hunt their prey. Hyenas have a stronger bite force than African wild dogs but they can’t run as fast or as far as them.
Comparing Hyenas vs. African Wild Dogs
The African wild dog is a social animal and lives in packs. The hyena is a solitary animal and lives in clans.
African wild dogs are the second largest carnivore on the African continent. They are very social animals that live in packs of 10-30 members. Hyenas, on the other hand, are solitary animals that live in clans of up to 50 members.
African wild dogs have developed complex social structures and hierarchies to maintain order within their pack. Hyenas do not have such elaborate social structures and rely on physical dominance instead for order among clan members.
African wild dogs are smaller than hyenas and they have a more slender body. They also have a broader muzzle and larger ears. Their build is slighter and they have longer legs.
Hyenas are heavier than African wild dogs, with a stockier build, shorter legs, and shorter muzzle. They also have less fur on their head, neck, and forelegs.
African Wild Dogs rarely hunt alone while all hyena hunts are done by individuals or pairs of individuals (except for during mating season).
African wild dogs have a similar build to hyenas but are completely different in many respects.
Both of these animals are classified as canids, but they are in different parts of the family tree. The African wild dog is on the Lycaon genus, which includes other canids such as wolves. On the other hand, hyenas are classified as a Hyaenidae species.
African wild dog packs are usually larger than those of the hyena and they live in dens or caves during dry seasons. They also sleep while standing up unlike their counterparts who curl up into a ball to sleep.
Since African wild dogs live in groups, they hunt collaboratively, while hyenas hunt solo and will steal meat from each other.
Lions are the undisputed social and territorial kings of the African savanna. The next most dominant predator is the African wild dog.
African wild dogs are smaller than hyenas and don’t have a mane. They hunt in packs of 12-30 while hyenas hunt in larger groups. Hyenas often scavenge from other predators kills, but can also kill prey themselves. African wild dogs feed mainly on small to medium sized prey, such as birds and hares.
Behavior & Diet
African wild dogs are the only species of canid that hunts and eats primarily in large packs. They are also the only species of canid to hunt cooperatively.
The African wild dog diet is varied and they eat a variety of prey including small mammals, birds, tortoises, snakes, mongoose and even insects. The diet of these animals also consists of grasses, roots, berries, and insects.
Hyenas are typically scavengers but they will also hunt small prey such as rodents, lizards or birds.
The African wild dog is a pack hunter that is often found in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. They are mostly nocturnal, which means they hunt at night. They are also opportunistic hunters, which means they will eat whatever meat they can find.
The African wild dog has a very diverse diet, consisting of anything from insects to fruit to small mammals and even other predators.
Hyenas are also pack hunters and have a similar diet to the African wild dog. Their diet consists of mainly scavenging for food; however, they will occasionally hunt for small prey such as rodents and birds. Hyenas usually eat whatever food source is available to them at the time and will even eat their own kind if necessary!
The diet of an African wild dog is variable, depending on the location of their habitat and what prey is available.
The hyena is a scavenger that eats carrion, insects, fruit, eggs, small mammals, and sometimes other animals. Hyenas will also hunt young or injured animals if they find them. Their diet depends on where they live and what food sources are available to them in their area.
Physical Appearance & Differences
The physical appearance of these animals is the first thing that we notice. The African wild dogs are usually brown with a black stripe running along their back and they have large ears and a long, bushy tail. Hyenas on the other hand are usually yellow or brown with black spots all over their body, they have short ears and a stubby tail.
The African wild dog also has strong jaws that enable it to break bones which is not something that hyenas can do.
The physical differences between African wild dogs and hyenas are quite striking. Hyenas have much longer legs than African wild dogs, and their ears are more erect. Hyenas also have a very long, narrow muzzle with a black nose, while the muzzle of an African wild dog is short and wide.
African wild dogs have a brown to dark grey coat that is usually shaggy or rough in texture, while hyena fur is usually smooth or sleek and black or brown in color.
African wild dogs are the smallest of African canids, and they have a slimmer, more elegant build. They have a distinctive black stripe that runs down their backs and through their eyes.
Hyenas are much larger than African wild dogs and have a stockier build. They have a brown or black coat with white patches on the cheeks, throat, and chin.
