Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Widely mistaken as a pure scavenger, the hyena is actually a brave nocturnal hunter in its own right. The animals’ famous laughing sounds are uttered as they seize prey and fight among themselves for food. The cry often draws lions and other large carnivores, which may then try to steal the food.

Hyenas generally travel in packs of up to 100 members and have firmly established territories. The adult hyena is about the size…

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