Crocuta crocuta (spotted or laughing hyaena, Kaup 1828, Erxleben 1777; up to 160 cm in length, Pliocene, 10 mya to present) is a running carnivore, hunter and scavenger with large bone-cracking carnassial teeth. Traditionally considered close to Nandinia (African palm civet) and Herpestes (mongoose) the large reptile tree nests Crocuta with Gulo, the wolverine, anothre running carnivore with shorter legs.

The mating process is complicated, as the male's penis enters and exits the female's reproductive tract through her pseudo-penis rather than directly through the vagina, which is blocked by the false scrotum and testes.

Gulo gulo (Linneaus 1758; up to 110 cm in length) is the extant wolverine, a ferocious predator resembling a small bear. Here it nests with Crocutus, the hyena, a larger taxon with longer forelimbs. Note the crushing premolars.