Crocuta

Crocuta
Temporal range: 3.8–0 Ma
Pliocene - Present
Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Hyaenidae
Subfamily: Hyaeninae
Genus: Crocuta
Kaup, 1828
Type species
Hyaena crocuta
Erxleben, 1777
Species

Crocuta is a genus of hyena containing the largest extant member of the family, the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Several fossil species are known as well, with the Pleistocene Eurasian cave hyenas either being regarded as distinct species or subspecies of the spotted hyena.