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Description

"The European cave hyena was much larger than its modern African cousin, having been estimated to weigh 102 kg (225 lb).[1] In Late Pleistocene specimens from Europe, the cave hyena's metacarpals and metatarsals are shorter and thicker, while the humerus and femur are longer,[2] thus indicating adaptations to a different habitat from that of the modern spotted hyena.[3] [4] As with the African subspecies, female cave hyenas were larger than their male counterparts.[5] Paleolithic rock art depicting the cave hyena shows that it retained the spotted pelt of its African relative.[6]
Several den sites found in Europe indicate that the cave hyena preferentially targeted large prey, with wild horses predominating, followed by steppe bison and woolly rhinoceros .[5] [7] [8] The cave hyena's favouring of horses is consistent with the behaviour of the modern African spotted hyena, which mostly hunts zebras . Secondary prey species included reindeer , red deer , giant deer , European ass , chamois and ibex .[5] A small number of wolf remains have also been discovered in hyena den sites. The cave hyena likely killed wolves due to intraguild competition , though their presence in the cave site indicates that they were also fed upon, which is unusual among carnivores .[8] Similarly, cave lion and bear remains have been discovered in hyena den sites, thus indicating that hyenas may have scavenged on or killed them.[5] "
-Wikipedia

The Cave hyena is not worshipped as a god by pretty much anyone, or even as a particularly high-ranking spirit. It has no sought-after bio-products like ivory, horn, or ambergris, does not capture the spirit and imagination the way its closest competitors, the Dire Wolf and Cave Lion, do, and is very rarely chosen by anyone as a totem or spirit animal. Most of the time it is just treated as a much-loathed pest.
Dismissing the animal that way is a dangerous mistake, as they tend to live in large packs, grow up to 240lbs, and have a bite strong enough to crush an arm inside an iron greave or collapse lungs theoretically protected by a stolid breastplate. They are also notoriously wily and clever, and appear able to live practically anywhere. The details vary, but most people agree that they can be confidently associated with dark magic, with the reincarnations of wicked souls, and portents of ill. But around many campfires the hyena also occupies a place similar to that of Raven, as a wily trickster who loves to play pranks on other spirits and the final culprit of such phenomena as the Short Faced Bear’s short face or the Mastodon’s stretched nose.

Thanks for stopping by, feel free to leave a comment, and have a great day!
JD

Description

"The European cave hyena was much larger than its modern African cousin, having been estimated to weigh 102 kg (225 lb).[1] In Late Pleistocene specimens from Europe, the cave hyena's metacarpals and metatarsals are shorter and thicker, while the humerus and femur are longer,[2] thus indicating adaptations to a different habitat from that of the modern spotted hyena.[3] [4] As with the African subspecies, female cave hyenas were larger than their male counterparts.[5] Paleolithic rock art depicting the cave hyena shows that it retained the spotted pelt of its African relative.[6]
Several den sites found in Europe indicate that the cave hyena preferentially targeted large prey, with wild horses predominating, followed by steppe bison and woolly rhinoceros .[5] [7] [8] The cave hyena's favouring of horses is consistent with the behaviour of the modern African spotted hyena, which mostly hunts zebras . Secondary prey species included reindeer , red deer , giant deer , European ass , chamois and ibex .[5] A small number of wolf remains have also been discovered in hyena den sites. The cave hyena likely killed wolves due to intraguild competition , though their presence in the cave site indicates that they were also fed upon, which is unusual among carnivores .[8] Similarly, cave lion and bear remains have been discovered in hyena den sites, thus indicating that hyenas may have scavenged on or killed them.[5] "
-Wikipedia

The Cave hyena is not worshipped as a god by pretty much anyone, or even as a particularly high-ranking spirit. It has no sought-after bio-products like ivory, horn, or ambergris, does not capture the spirit and imagination the way its closest competitors, the Dire Wolf and Cave Lion, do, and is very rarely chosen by anyone as a totem or spirit animal. Most of the time it is just treated as a much-loathed pest.
Dismissing the animal that way is a dangerous mistake, as they tend to live in large packs, grow up to 240lbs, and have a bite strong enough to crush an arm inside an iron greave or collapse lungs theoretically protected by a stolid breastplate. They are also notoriously wily and clever, and appear able to live practically anywhere. The details vary, but most people agree that they can be confidently associated with dark magic, with the reincarnations of wicked souls, and portents of ill. But around many campfires the hyena also occupies a place similar to that of Raven, as a wily trickster who loves to play pranks on other spirits and the final culprit of such phenomena as the Short Faced Bear’s short face or the Mastodon’s stretched nose.

Thanks for stopping by, feel free to leave a comment, and have a great day!
JD