Caption: Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) lying on edge of waterhole, Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana.

Camera: Canon EOS 450D; Lens: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM zoom; Focal length: 140mm; Aperture: f/8; Shutter Speed: 1/200; ISO: 400

To see more photos of spotted hyena, please visit our hyena gallery page, Hyena Pictures, which has recently been revamped. A number of new images have been added while some of the older ones have been replaced with updated versions.

Caption: Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) carrying remains of a carcass, Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sand, South Africa.

Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark II; Lens: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM; Focal length: 300mm; Shutter speed: 1/200; Aperture: f/7.1; ISO: 800.

Although spotted hyena have a reputation as skulking scavengers, this is undeserved as they are accomplished hunters, bringing down about 70% of their own kills.

They prey mainly on medium- to large-size antelope, relying on speed and stamina to run down their prey, rather than stalking. See Spotted Hyena Information for more about this animal, the largest and most widespread of the Hyaenidae family.