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Hyenas are known to have preyed on humans in prehistory: human hair has been found in fossilized hyena dung dating back 195,000 to 257,000 years. [70] Some paleontologists believe that competition and predation by cave hyenas ( Crocuta crocuta spelaea ) in Siberia was a significant factor in delaying human colonization of Alaska .
Humans killed per year Animal Humans killed per year Animal Humans killed per year 1 Mosquitoes: 1,000,000 [a] Mosquitoes 750,000 Mosquitoes 725,000 2 Humans 475,000 Humans (homicide) 437,000 Snakes 50,000 3 Snakes: 50,000 Snakes 100,000 Dogs 25,000 4 Dogs: 25,000 [b] Dogs 35,000 Tsetse flies 10,000 5 Tsetse flies: 10,000 [c] Freshwater snails ...
Although hyenas readily feed upon human corpses, [29] they are generally very wary of humans and less dangerous than the big cats whose territory overlaps with theirs. Nonetheless, both the spotted hyena and the smaller striped hyena are powerful predators quite capable of killing an adult human, and are known to attack people when food is scarce.
In ordinary circumstances, striped hyenas are extremely timid around humans, though they may show bold behaviours toward people at night. [10] On rare occasions, striped hyenas have preyed on humans. In the 1880s, a hyena was reported to have attacked humans, especially sleeping children, over a three-year period in the Erivan Governorate ...
Spotted hyenas vary in their folkloric and mythological depictions, depending on the ethnic group from which the tales originate. It is often difficult to know whether or not spotted hyenas are the specific hyena species featured in such stories, particularly in West Africa, as both spotted and striped hyenas are often given the same names. [147]
Brown hyenas have powerful jaws, and young animals can crack the leg bones of springboks in five minutes, though this ability deteriorates with age and dental wear. [7] The skulls of brown hyenas are larger than those of the closely related striped hyena, and their dentition is more robust, indicating a less generalized dietary adaptation. [13]
Spotted hyena attacks on humans are underreported. During 1960 coup and the Red Terror, [10] hyenas were reported extensively fed on human corpses. In El Kere and Bare of south-eastern Ethiopia, 50 people were attacked by hyena in the year 1998/1999, of which of majority of them (35 out of 55) were children.
This is a list of large carnivores known to prey on humans. The order Carnivora consists of numerous mammal species specialized in eating flesh. This list does not include animal attacks on humans by domesticated species (dogs), or animals held in zoos, aquaria, circuses, private homes or other non-natural settings.