Origin:
The brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea), also known as the Cape hyena, is a smaller and lesser-known species of hyena. It is native to southern Africa, where it inhabits dry and rocky areas, deserts and semi-deserts, including the Kalahari and Namib Deserts. It is a largely solitary species with significant adaptations to living in harsh conditions.

Specifics:
Appearance: The brown hyena has a slender body, long shaggy brown fur, and a longer tail with dark fringes at the end. It has prominent stripes on its front legs, giving it a characteristic appearance. It is smaller than the spotted hyena and has shorter, rounded ears.
Size: Adults reach a height of 70–80 cm at the withers and weigh 40–55 kg, with males and females being approximately the same size.
Behavior: The brown hyena is a predominantly nocturnal creature known for its ability to travel long distances in search of food. It lives in small family groups, but is mostly solitary when hunting and foraging. It is less aggressive than its relative the spotted hyena.

Interesting facts:
Scavenger: The brown hyena specializes in consuming the remains of other predators, but can also hunt smaller prey such as rabbits, rodents, and birds.
Communication: It uses sounds, scent marks, and body postures to communicate with its group. Its "laughter" is not as pronounced as the spotted hyena's, but it still has a wide range of vocalizations.
Desert specialist: The brown hyena can survive in extremely dry conditions, often obtaining water from the food it consumes.
Occurrence:
The brown hyena is found mainly in southern Africa, including Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. It prefers dry areas, deserts, savannahs and rocky terrains, where it has sufficient shelter and food sources. Compared to the spotted hyena, its range is smaller and less numerous.

Hunting of the brown hyena:
The brown hyena is not a common target of hunters, as it has a lower trophy value compared to other African predators. Hunting is only allowed in some areas of Africa and is usually for population control or livestock protection. Their presence in the wild is important for the ecosystem, as they play an important role in cleaning the environment from the remains of prey and carrion.