What would you get if you crossed a wolf —
— and a hyena?
“‘sup?” — Spotted hyena. (Image: Arjun Dheer/Hyaena Specialist Group)
This!
Mother Nature didn’t actually cross a caniform and a feliform, of course.
Dr. Wikipedia assures us that aardwolves are hyenas — weird termite-eating hyenas — and that they are probably the oldest of living hyena groups (which probably explains their weirdness).
While researching the most charismatic of all feliforms 🐱, I’ve come across lots of clues about the amazing history of hyenas.
That link just talks about some of the more extreme prehistoric species. The rest of the fascinating information on how hyenas evolved is tucked away in various research papers and science books.
Someday…
Meanwhile, although the wolves are getting indignant over this “waste” of a Dog Day afternoon post on a hyena (wolf yucky faces), there is one more aardwolf video you’ve got to see:
IUCN Red List page.
Lagniappe:
Some views of the Vermilion River wolf pack’s pups, uploaded seven months ago (it’s apparently in northern Minnesota):
Adults: “Ai sed no pichers!”
“Dam’ dogs, dam’ hyenas, dam’ snowmobiles, dam’ … Well twitch mah tail, a birdie! Dam’ birdie. Dey saw dat, didn’t day. Dam’ cameras. I’ze outa here!” — Canada lynx.
Featured image: AdamZ9/Shutterstock
Flight To Wonder 