brown hyena

plural brown hyenas

1. A comparatively rare species of hyena, Parahyaena brunnea, endemic to desert and semi-desert areas and open woodland savannahs of southern Africa.

   The brown hyena has evolved to live in desert systems throughout southern Africa, where it occurs at low densities.

   2014, Chris McIntyre, Botswana Safari Guide: Okavango Delta, Chobe, Northern Kalahari, 4th edition, Bradt Travel Guides, page 428

   2 more examples

   It is now well established that brown hyenas, at least when rearing cubs, deliberately hunt other carnivores (up to the size of cheetahs, on the Kruger Park evidence) and take them to the breeding dens as food for the cubs.

   1981, C. K. Brain, The Hunters Or the Hunted?: An Introduction to African Cave Taphonomy, page 77

   Because they are scavengers in a semiarid ecosystem where carrion is often limited, brown hyenas naturally occur in small numbers.

   1984, Mark Owens, Delia Owens, Cry of the Kalahari, page 324