Although hyenas bear some physical resemblance to dogs, they make up a separate biological family that is most closely related to Herpestidae (the family of mongooses and meerkats), though not all scientists agree.
Some scientists (biologists, taxonomists, zoologists, etc.) say they are related to the Mongoose and Meerkat. Most put them in their own family, Hyenidae (which includes Hyenas and the Ardwolf). Allagree THEY ARE NOT DOGS. They are no more related to dogs than cats and bears are.
Anyone who said it falls in the cat family is also wrong... It is so unique it beloings to a family all of its own Hyaenidae..... It is more like meercat or a mongoose than a cat or dog=)
The animal known as Hyena is not exactly a dog, although it looks like a dog and like a dog it is a carnivorous. The word Hyena can also be spelt as hyaena. Heyna refers to any of the three species of the coarse-furred, and dog - like carnivorous animals that are usually found in the continents of Asia and Africa and they are noted for their scavenging habits and hunting abilities. The dog – like animals, the Hyenas have kind of long forelegs and they have a very powerful neck and very sturdy shoulders which are of enormous help in dismembering their prey and carrying them. Hyenas are known to be very tireless, determined and diligent trotters and they have excellent sense of sight, extremely acute sense of hearing, and a very strong sense of smell for locating carrion, and they are also very proficient hunters.
These animals are very well known for their hunting skills. So the answer to your question is that although this animal looks like a dog in many ways, it is essentially not a dog, but a totally different species. Dogs can be tamed and kept as domestic pets while hyenas are totally wild and fierce animals and can be extremely dangerous. You can often see them on national geographic preying on animals as fierce as lions and tigers.
Hyena is not exactly a dog, but it looks like one. It is also carnivorous. It is well known for its hunting abilities. It is the only animal that laughs. They have excellent sense of sight, extremely acute sense of hearing and a very strong sense of smell for locating carrion. Dogs can be kept as a pet however in this case hyenas are quite different. They are totally wild and fierce animals and can be very dangerous.
Hyena comes under cat family even-though it looks like a dog and lions doesnt come under cat family even-though they may look like a cat(because they don't climb trees and they don't swim).
