HYJSNID.E. 131 



Family HY^ENID^l. 



The last family of the ^Eluroidea that is found in the Indian ' 

 area is represented by a single species, the common striped hyaena. 

 But two other species exist, both African. All resemble dogs 

 more than cats, but are more nearly related to the Viverrida>, and 

 especially to the Herpestine subfamily, than to either Felicia or 

 Ganidce. 



The head in hyaenas is large and slightly elongated, the tail 

 moderate, limbs rather long ; the hallux and pollex are wanting, 

 the tarsus and metatarsus entirely hairy. The feet have a median 

 or plantar pad and one to each digit. The animal is truly digiti- 

 grade. The claws are but slightly curved, strong, blunt, and non- 

 retractile. 



The skull is remarkable for the great development of the sagittal 

 crest, serving for the attachment of the powerful temporal muscles. 

 The zygomatic arches are very strong. The auditory bulla is in- 

 flated but not divided ; the paroccipital process distinct ; there is 

 neither alisphenoid canal nor pterygoid fossa. The palate extends 

 back but a short distance behind the posterior molars. The teeth 

 are well developed, the upper sectorial being particularly large. 



By most naturalists all living hyaenas have been classed as ono 

 genus, but some writers of late have distinguished the African 

 spotted hyaena as Crocuta, on account of its having much smaller 

 upper true molars with but one or two roots, less developed lower 

 true molars, no mane, and some remarkable peculiarities about the 

 female genital organs (Watson, P. Z. 8. 1877, p. 369, 1881, p. 516 ; 

 and Mivart, ibid. 1882, p. 198). 



Genus HYJENA, Brisson, 1756. 



Dentition : i. - 6 , c. \~, pm. *^, m. J^J. The outer incisors 

 much larger than the inner, canines and premolars large. Upper 

 sectorial teeth very large, formed of a distinctly trilobed blade and 

 a moderately developed inner tubercle at the anterior extremity of 

 the tooth. Upper molar small and placed transversely close to 

 the hinder edge of the sectorial, as iu cats. Lower sectorial con- 

 sisting of but little more than the bilobed blade. Vertebra : C. 7, 

 D. 15, L. 5, S. 4, C. 19. 



The anatomy of the hyaena has been described by Daubenton in 

 Buffon's ' Histoire Naturelle,' vol. ix, p. 280. 



Fossil species are numerous, and no less than five have been 

 recognized in the Siwalik beds of the Punjab, besides one species 

 of an allied genus, called Lepihycena by Lydekker. Eemains of 

 the African H. crocuta have been found in caves near Karnul, 

 Madras. 



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