The hyena (spelled “hyaena” in some parts of the world) is Africa’s most common large carnivore. There are three hyena species — spotted, brown, and striped. Spotted hyenas are the largest of the three. They are fairly large in build and have relatively short torsos, lower hindquarters, and sloping backs. They have excellent night-time vision and hearing and weigh about 77 to 176 pounds. They are found in savannahs, grasslands, forests, forest edges, sub-deserts, and mountains up to 13,000 feet.

Source: African Wildlife