Cave Hyena Jaw with Teeth

Taxonomy and Identity: The cave hyena (Crocuta crocuta spelaea) is generally regarded as a now-extinct subspecies or regional population of the spotted hyena, distinct from the modern African forms.

Time Period and Range: These predators lived during the Late Pleistocene epoch and roamed large swaths of Eurasia, including parts of Europe and Asia, adapting to colder climates and more rugged terrains than their modern counterparts.

Physical Characteristics: Cave hyenas were robust and often larger than present-day spotted hyenas, featuring more heavily built skulls and jaws, which enabled them to crush large bones and exploit substantial prey.

Habitat and Behavior: Fossil evidence suggests they frequently used caves as dens and resting places, leading to their common name. They were skilled hunters that preyed on a range of large mammals, from bison to wild horses, and also opportunistically scavenged.

Extinction Factors: Their decline and eventual extinction, which likely occurred around 11,000 to 14,000 years ago, may have been influenced by climatic changes, shifts in available prey, competition with wolves and humans, and potentially direct human predation.