Although often considered scavengers, Spotted hyenas are efficient and flexible hunters. They prefer prey within a body mass range of 56–182 kg (with a mode of 102 kg), a dietary niche breadth similar, but not identical, to that of the Lion.

Endemic to Africa, south of the Sahara, although formerly with a geographic range across almost all of Africa and Eurasia. Current distribution is more patchy, especially in West Africa, with populations often concentrated in protected areas, of Chad, Central African Republic, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, and some parts of South Africa.