Hyenas or hyaenas are feliform carnivoran mammals belonging to the family Hyaenidae. With just four extant species, it is the fourth-smallest family in the order Carnivora and one of the smallest in the class Mammalia. Despite their low diversity, hyenas are unique and vital components of most African ecosystems.
Hyena
Aardwolf, smallest member of the Hyena family, skeleton. (Museum of Osteology)
Skull of Ictitherium viverrinum, one of the "dog-like" hyenas. American Museum of Natural History
Skeletons of a striped hyena (left) and a spotted hyena (right), two species of the "bone-crushing" hyenas
Feliformia is a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of "cat-like" carnivorans, including cats, hyenas, mongooses, viverrids, and related taxa. Feliformia stands in contrast to the other suborder of Carnivora, Caniformia.
Feliformia
Feliformia skull showing double-chambered bullae
Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)