Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) Hyaenidae

Hyenas possess a powerful dentition complete with massive conical hammer-like premolars designed for crushing and splitting bone. The three species of hyena (spotted, brown and striped) belong to the family Hyaenidae. Hyenas are not related to dogs; anatomically and genetically they more closely resemble cats. The Aardwolf was previously classified as a member of the hyena family but based on their skull, dentition and recent DNA analysis, they more appropriately belong in a family of their own (Protelidae). The genus and species name crocuta is a rare Latin word meaning an unknown animal from Ethiopia.

Lateral View Spotted Hyena Skull
Note the massive conical shaped premolars that work like ball peen hammers. The huge premolars and molars coupled with extreme muscular strength allow these animals to devour bone, hooves and carcass parts that most carnivores cannot consume.
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Lateral View Spotted Hyena Skull
A lateral view with the mandible detached demonstrates the size and shape of the maxillary dentition. Note the manner in which the sagittal crest merges with the supra occipital crest and "hangs" over the posterior of the cranium creating a concavity above the foramen magnum. The major cervical (neck) muscles insert in this region of the skull. The immense neck musculature of the hyena stabilizes the skull when the hyena applies the pressures and forces necessary to split elephant bones.
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Lateral View Spotted Hyena Posterior Mandibular Teeth
A closer view of the conical ball peen hammer-like mandibular teeth for smashing the heaviest bones.
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Lateral View Spotted Hyena Mandible
The mandible is enormous, dense and resistant to fracture; the teeth monumental in size. The large concavity on the posterior of the mandible and the tall coronoid processes provide attachment surface area for the masseter and temporalis muscles respectively.
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Dorsal View Spotted Hyena Skull
In this perspective, one can appreciate the broad, deep, and laterally bulging zygomatic arches designed for muscle accommodation and attachment. The large space between the skull and the arches houses the super-sized muscles of mastication. Note that the cranium is laterally compressed and appears keel-like rather than round in shape. This design is common amongst mammalian carnivores but exaggerated in hyena species. The design is yet an additional means to accommodate the enormous jaw muscles.
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Ventral View Spotted Hyena Skull
Note the dentition and shapes of the individual teeth. The 4 teeth posterior to the canine are premolars; they function to break, crush and rapidly dismantle carcasses as their shapes would suggest. The hyena has vestigial molars that are usually lost early in life. This animal does not need molars because hyenas do not chew food. Like dogs (canidae) and cats (felidae), scraps and chunks of meat and bone are swallowed whole. The hyena competes with many powerful predators on the African plains; there is no time for chewing. Super predators must dismember carcasses and swallow food as quickly as possible.
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Posterior View Spotted Hyena Skull
The posterior view clearly shows the remarkable extent of the bulging zygomatic arches and the crests superior to the foramen magnum. The sagittal crest is the ridge that traverses the very dorsal aspect (top) of the skull and the supraoccipital crest is the "U" shaped crest that is perpendicular to the sagittal crest. The supraoccipital crest delineates the posterior (back) of the skull. The elevations, depressions and crests in the bone add surface area and anchors for muscle attachment. As these animals age, the ridges and crests become more pronounced.
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