Crocuta crocuta

(Erxleben, 1777)

Spotted Hyena

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Laurasiatheria
Order : Carnivora
Suborder : Feliformia
Infraorder : Viverroidea
Family : Hyaenidae
Subfamily : Hyaeninae
Genus : Crocuta

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Erxleben, J.C.P. 1777. Systema regni animalis per classes, ordines, genera, species, varietates cum synonymia et historia animalium. Classis I. Mammalia. Impensis Weygandianis, Leipzig, 636 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15873375

Original name as described

Canis Crocuta

Type locality

Gui­­nea, Aethiopia; restricted to "Senegambia".

Biogeographic realm

Afrotropic

Country distribution

Mauritania · Senegal · Gambia · Guinea-Bissau · Guinea · Mali · Sierra Leone · Cote d'Ivoire · Ghana · Burkina Faso · Togo · Benin · Niger · Nigeria · Cameroon · Chad · Central African Republic · Sudan · South Sudan · Eritrea · Djibouti · Ethiopia · Somalia · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Uganda · Kenya · Rwanda · Burundi · Tanzania · Gabon · Republic of the Congo · Angola · Zambia · Malawi · Mozambique · Zimbabwe · Namibia · Botswana · South Africa · Eswatini

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006071

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Crocuta crocuta fortis

J. A. Allen, 1924

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

fortis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

AMNH M-52068

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/amnh/mammals?id=urn-catalog-amnh-mammals-m-52068

Authority page

214

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42949544

Authority publication

Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Crocuta nyasæ

Cabrera, 1911

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

nyasae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1892.8.1.5

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/150ec3a2-a3ec-4cbf-8560-e4b77eeb68c6

Authority page

99

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31251927

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Crocuta thomasi

Cabrera, 1911

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

thomasi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1901.8.9.27

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/36a613dd-bc24-4e06-958c-5835f0aa3039

Authority page

98

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31251926

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Crocuta rufopicta

Cabrera, 1911

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

rufopicta

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1909.6.1.14

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/992ce4a1-78d6-4640-92b7-6994b6a571ed

Authority page

97

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31251925

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Crocuta crocuta dorotheae

Kurtén, 1965

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

dorotheae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:PV:M 13861

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

14

Authority publication

Acta Zoologica Fennica

Crocuta crocuta debilis

Kurtén, 1965

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

debilis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:PV:M 16242

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

14

Authority publication

Acta Zoologica Fennica

Hyäna spelaea

(Goldfuss, 1823)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

spelaea

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

GMB M2609

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

456

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37012934

Authority publication

Nova Acta Physico-Medica Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Naturae Curiosorum

Crocuta spelaea capensis

Broom, 1939

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Type

Ka 57

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

334

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Crocuta crocuta yangula

W. H. Gilbert, N. García, & F. C. Howell, 2008

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

yangula

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

NME BOU-VP-1/204

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

100

Authority publication

book

Crocuta crocuta petralonae

Kurtén in Kurtén & Poulianos, 1977

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

petralonae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

Petralona 65

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

99

Authority publication

Anthropos (Athens)

Crocuta crocuta angella

Ewer, 1955

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

angella

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

TM Sk. 319

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

830

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Crocuta crocuta fisi

E. Heller, 1914

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

fisi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:182078

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/32f84a845-4830-41eb-a690-e68ec2c80a4a

Authority page

5

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30096163

Authority publication

Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Hyaena (Crocuta) leontiewi

(Satunin, 1905)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

leontiewi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZIN O. 5782

Type kind

lectotype

Authority page

556

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10359920

Authority publication

Zoologischer Anzeiger

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Hyaena Crocuta

(G. Fischer, 1814)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

crocuta

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

xii

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130073

Authority publication

Moscow

Name usages

  1. Fischer (1814:xii, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130073) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
  2. Cuvier (1842:3, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44518526) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60227)
  3. Blyth (1863:43, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534671) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)
  4. Matschie (1895:60, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14835453) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67260)
  5. Lydekker (1908:449, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741669) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)
  6. Allen (1909:171) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/16003)
  7. Ward (1910:509, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15016152) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39628)
  8. Roberts (1913:102, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50439560) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17656)

Hyœna crocuta

(Lesson, 1842)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

crocuta

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

37

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1842:37) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

hyæna speléa

(Crespon, 1844)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

spelea

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

55

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52795663

Authority publication

Nîmes

Name usages

Crespon (1844:55, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52795663) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38970)

Hyæna crocuta capensis

(Lydekker, 1908)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

450

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:450, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Hyæna crocuta gariepensis

(Lydekker, 1908)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

gariepensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

450

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:450, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Hyæna crocuta germinans

(Lydekker, 1908)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

germinans

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

450

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:450, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Hyæna crocuta noltei

(Lydekker, 1908)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

noltei

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

450

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:450, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Hyæna crocuta thierryi

(Lydekker, 1908)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

thierryi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

450

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:450, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Hyæna crocuta togöensis

(Lydekker, 1908)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

togoensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

450

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:450, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Hyæna crocuta weissmanni

(Lydekker, 1908)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

weissmanni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

450

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:450, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741670) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Crocuta crocuta

Coetzee, 1971

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

crocuta

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

37

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

  1. Coetzee (1971:37) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  2. Corbet & Hill (1980:103) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  3. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:277) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  4. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  5. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:510) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  6. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:254) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)
  7. Kingdon & Hoffman (2013:273) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/27643)
  8. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #5674) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  9. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #5674) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  10. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006071) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  11. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/5674/45194782) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Canis Crocuta

(Erxleben, 1777)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

crocuta

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

578

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15873375

Authority publication

Leipzig

Name usages

  1. Erxleben (1777:578, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15873375) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36060)
  2. Cuvier (1797:122, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637204) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38531)

Hyena (Crocata)

(E. A. W. von Zimmermann, 1780)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

crocata

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

256

Authority publication

Leipzig

Hyaena maculata

(Thunberg, 1811)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

maculata

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

302

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11767796

Authority publication

Mémoires de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de Saint-Pétersbourg

Name usages

  1. Thunberg (1811:302, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11767796) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64194)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Hyæna capensis

(A. G. Desmarest, 1817)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

499

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18058899

Authority publication

Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:180, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207648) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Hyæna rufa

(A. G. Desmarest, 1817)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

rufa

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

499

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18058899

Authority publication

Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:180, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207648) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Hyaena maculata

(Ödmann, 1820)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

maculata

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

70

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34515831

Authority publication

Kunglika Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar

Hyaena spelaea major

(Goldfuss, 1823)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

major

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

pl. 57, fig. 3

Authority publication

Nova Acta Physico-Medica Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Naturae Curiosorum

Hyaena croacuta

(A. Smith, 1826)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

croacuta

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

12

Authority publication

Cape Town

Hyaena encrita

(A. Smith, 1827)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

encrita

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

461

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/778729

Authority publication

Transactions of the Linnean Society of London

Hyaena intermedia

(de Serres, Dubreuil, & B. Jeanjean, 1828)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

intermedia

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

284

Authority publication

Mémoires du Muséum d'histoire naturelle

Hyaena gigantea

(Holl, 1829)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

gigantea

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

36

Authority publication

Dresden

Hyaena Cuvieri

(Boitard, 1841)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

cuvieri

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

233

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16650305

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Hyaena crocuta habessynica

(de Blainville, 1844)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

habessynica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Hyaena (Crocotta) gariepensis

(Matschie, 1900)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

gariepensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

25

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Hyaena (Crocotta) germinans

(Matschie, 1900)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

germinans

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

26

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8797009

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Hyaena (Crocotta) noltei

(Matschie, 1900)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

noltei

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

211

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8797217

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Hyaena (Crocotta) thierryi

(Matschie, 1900)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

thierryi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

30

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8797013

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Hyaena (Crocotta) togoensis

(Matschie, 1900)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

togoensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

31

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8797014

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Hyaena (Crocotta) wissmanni

(Matschie, 1900)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

wissmanni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

22

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Crocotta kibonotensis

Lönnberg, 1908

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

kibonotensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

16

Authority publication

book

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Crocotta panganensis

Lönnberg, 1908

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

panganensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

18

Authority publication

book

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Crocuta nzoyae

Cabrera, 1911

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

nzoyae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

200

Authority publication

Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Hyaena crocuta subspelaea

(Doumergue, 1934)

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

subspelaea

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority publication

Bulletin de la Société Géographique d'Oran

Crocuta crocuta praespelaea

Schütt, 1971

Family

Hyaenidae

Root name

praespelaea

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

29-76

Authority publication

Mainzer naturwissenschaftliches Archiv

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