2006-10-29 08:03:04 · 9 answers · asked by ninjasumi 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
I hope this is not a poll, and that you're asking about the evolutionary relationships of hyenas.
Hyenas belong in their own family, different from that of dogs (Canidae, the canids) and cats (Felidae, the felids).
All these families belong to the same order, the Carnivora.
Within the terrestrial carnivores (there are also aquatic carnivores, the Pinnipedia, including seals, sea lions, walruses and relatives), one traditional classification scheme divided them into two major lineages or groups: the Caniformia and the Feliformia.
However, this scheme has been challenged and the composition of these major groups is not agreed upon.
In spite of the arguments, most authors agree that the Feliform carnivorans include cats, hyaenas, mongooses, viverrids, and Malagasy carnivorans.
This means that in terms of phylogenetic relationships, hyenas are closer to the cats than to dogs.
Here's a scientific publication about the relationships between the carnivorans, if you're interested:
http://www.daimi.au.dk/~cmosses/thesis/articles/Bininda_Emonds_Carnivora.pdf
(check the phylogenetic tree in page 151)
2006-10-29 08:43:17 · answer #1 · answered by Calimecita 7 · 8⤊ 2⤋
As you can see from the source Hyenas are under the sub-order feliformia which includes cats, civets, and mongooses
2006-10-29 16:19:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hyenas are more closely related to cats than to dogs.
They belong to the order carnivora, suborder feliformia, order hyaenidae.
The feliformia include cats (felidae), mongooses (herpestidae) and civets and genets (viverridae).
On the basis of both cladistics (the classification of species by shared characteristics) and on the basis of genetics they are far more closely related to cats than to dogs.
2006-10-29 16:25:42 · answer #3 · answered by the last ninja 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Neither. They're hyenas.
2006-10-29 16:06:15 · answer #4 · answered by ZenPenguin 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hyenas are wicked, unforgiving and with no morality and principles whatsoever.
Cats are snobbish, classy and overly pretentious.
Dogs are caring, loyal and faithful.
I am all for dogs!
2006-10-29 16:11:48 · answer #5 · answered by King of Hearts 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Dogs,kinda funny that in peoples homes the cats are afraid the dogs.In the animal kingdom its the other way around.
2006-10-29 16:12:07 · answer #6 · answered by Leonidas P 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Cats, definitely.
2006-10-29 16:06:58 · answer #7 · answered by Aleks S. 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Dogs. They have canine qualities like howling and other stuff.
2006-10-29 16:12:10 · answer #8 · answered by whiteoleander3388 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
canine family
2006-10-29 16:06:09 · answer #9 · answered by worldstiti 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋