Differences Explained: African Wild Dog vs Hyena

If you have ever been on safari in Kenya or Tanzania, you might have encountered these dog-like creatures roaming the savannas and woodlands. Hyenas and African wild dogs tend to have a similar appearance but are distant apart in their genetics and physical aspects.

African wild dog also called the painted dog or Cape hunting dog is a wild canine with a mottled coat that features irregular patches of orange-yellow, white, and black fur. Unlike other members of the Canidae family with five toes on their forefeet, African wild dogs have only four of them.

Hyena on the other hand is neither a dog nor a cat. It belongs to the hyaenidae family consisting of four species: the spotted hyena, the striped hyena, aardwolf, and the brown hyena. Except for aardwolf, hyenas are fierce predators with powerful jaws and sharp teeth.

Here is a summary of what sets them apart.

The African Wild Dog	Hyena
Slender but solidly built, tall legs, narrow head, large bat-like ears and a bushy tail.	Solidly built, with a large head, round ears, bushy tail, and front legs taller than the hind legs.
Has a mottled coat with irregular patches in yellow-orange, white, and black.	Ginger colors with spots, stripes, or plain depending on the species.
Cooperative hunters work in packs to chase prey over long distances.	Opportunistic hunters that feed on carrions or target weakened prey.
They produce high-pitched twittering sounds and short barks.	They produce a range of vocalizations including grunting, giggling, growling, and yelling that sound like laughter.
Highly social, living in packs of more than 10 individuals.	Lives in social clans led by dominant females.

African Wild Dog vs Hyena

The spotted hyena is the largest and most common of the four species and I will largely focus on it as I detail the physical and behavioral characteristics that can help you differentiate between a hyena and an African wild dog. 

Body size and shape

The African wild dog has a slender but solidly built body with long legs, a narrow head, a bushy tail, and large bat-like ears. This Africa’s largest canine is 60 to 75 cm tall at its shoulders and weighs between 18 to 30 kilograms. This makes them agile in chasing prey over long distances.

On the other hand, hyenas are barrel-shaped with a large head, medium-sized round ears, and front legs that are taller than hind ones. Hyenas weigh between 40 to 80 kilograms and stand 70 to 80 centimeters. This means they are much larger and stronger than the African wild dogs.

The coat and colors

The African wild dog is commonly called the Painted dog because of its mottled coat that features irregular patches of orange-yellow, white, and black fur. Their bushy tails have a white white tip but the markings on their body aren’t of the same patterns among individuals.

The spotted hyena’s coat is a ginger background color with dark brown spots. The head, neck, and lower parts of the limbs are unspotted. Striped hyenas are brown, or gray with black stripes on the body and legs. The aardwolf resembles the striped hyena but it is smaller and thinner.

Brown hyenas are easily distinguished from other species by their long shaggy dark brown coat.

Social interactions

African wild dogs are highly social animals. You will always find them in large packs whenever hunting or just hanging around. These packs consisting of more than 10 canines have a higher ratio of males to females but they cooperate well in hunting and other activities.

Spotted hyenas live in groups called clans, bigger than any other carnivore. Hyena’s clan can range from a few to as many as 130 individuals. These hierarchically stratified groups are led by dominant females. Surprisingly, they can confront and scare large predators like lions and leopards.

Habitat preferences

Habitat preferences tend to set apart these two African predators. The African wild dog is drawn to open savannas, woodlands, and grasslands but will travel anywhere to reach their prey. However, you won’t easily find them in areas with high human activity or settlements.

In contrast, hyenas survive in a wider range of habitats, including open plains, savannas, forests, deserts, and mountains. They don’t mind living near urban settlements including urban areas. This puts hyenas more in direct conflict due to the threats they pose to livestock and human lives.

Threats to survival

Both the African wild dog and hyena face several threats to their survival. These unique species have suffered habitat loss because of deforestation and human encroachments. Climate change and unprecedented human activities have also caused wildfires that have negatively impacted on the wildlife.

Reduced hunting spaces has forced hyenas and African wild dogs to attack livestock in homesteads which has made farmers attack and kill them. Their attractive coats and body parts also make them a target for poaching and illegal hunting.

Diseases and parasites further endanger the lives of hyenas and African wild dogs. Most parks in Africa have no clear mechanisms for dealing with rabies and other diseases among wild animals. The whole pack can end up being decimated which largely contributes to their population decline.

Final thought

Hyenas and African wild dogs are among the top predators in Africa. They are all social animals that live in packs with cooperative hunting strategies. These carnivores can feed on carrions or hunt small to medium-sized mammals, birds, reptiles, and even insects. 

Hyena and African wild dogs roam freely in various national parks and game reserves in sub-Saharan Africa. They can be spotted in Masai Mara in Kenya, Serengeti in Tanzania, Chobe and Okavango in Botswana, and Luangwa valleys in Zambezi, not to mention the Great Kruger in South Africa.