Comparing a Jackal and a Hyena
What Are Key Differences Between a Jackal and a Hyena?
The key differences between a jackal and a hyena are their size and families. Jackals are canines that weigh between 11lb and 30lbs, grow 1.3ft high, and measure up to 2.5ft long, but hyenas are their own family of carnivores called Hyaenidae instead of canines, and they can weigh over 100lbs, grow 3ft at the shoulder, and measure up to 5ft long. You can easily tell these creatures apart by their size and by the large heads and thick necks of the hyena. However, we need to get more information before we decide which animal is more suited to win a fight.
What Are the Key Factors in a Fight Between a Jackal and a Hyena?
The key factors in a fight between a jackal and a hyena are going to be centered on their bodies. These carnivores are not ambush predators like tigers, and they’re not venomous snakes. Their fight will be decided by power, size, speed, and ferocity. We will break down all these elements and decide which animal has the most advantages needed to win against the other.
Jackal vs Hyena: Size
Hyenas are much larger than jackals. The average hyena weighs between 90lbs and 190lbs, stands over 2ft tall, and grows about 5ft long. Jackals are very small by comparison, weighing just about 30lbs, standing over 1ft tall, and growing 2.5ft long. Hyenas have the size advantage in this fight.
Jackal vs Hyena: Speed and Movement
Hyenas and jackals can both reach the same top speed of about 40 mph. Hyenas are seen at this top speed more frequently, but jackals have incredible stamina. That’s not to say that hyenas can’t chase and snap at the ankles of their prey for a long time. However, jackals are true endurance runners. Hyenas and jackals are tied for their speed and movement.
Jackal vs Hyena: Defenses
Hyenas and jackals both rely on their speed to outrun danger, and that is a good power to have. Hyenas are also known to stick with a pack to find safety in numbers. Jackals don’t always live in groups, though. They may live alone, live in pairs, or form small groups of up to six individuals. Hyenas are deadly creatures, and even individual lions won’t attack a group of them due to their size and power. Jackals don’t have the same protection, even in groups. They just don’t pose as much of a threat. Hyenas have the defensive advantage over the jackals.
Jackal vs Hyena: Offensive Capabilities
Hyenas are known for having incredibly powerful jaws and conical teeth that help them grab and hold prey and also strong survival instincts. With a bite force of 1,100PSI, these animals can swarm enemies, tear out chunks of flesh, and break bones with a nasty chomp. Their speed and power help them overwhelm prey. A jackal’s bite is weaker than many other animals. It’s not as strong as a mountain lion or many members of the canine family. Nevertheless, their curved teeth help them get a good grip on their foes and then shake it to death or simply bite the back of their prey’s neck and kill it outright. Hyenas have more powerful offensive capabilities.
Jackal vs Hyena: Predatory Behavior
Jackals are opportunistic predators and persistent hunters who go after small birds and mammals. They may hunt alone or as part of a group, and they may eat carrion if needed. Hyenas also eat carrion and have no qualms about stealing other creatures’ hunts. They are cursorial predators that chase after prey in a pack, wearing them down in a fashion similar to wolves. The similarities in the predatory behavior between these animals are significant, so they tie.
Who Would Win in a Fight Between a Jackal and a Hyena?
A hyena would win a fight against a jackal because it is larger, stronger, and has better tools with which to kill its foes. The animals won’t take the other by surprise at all. This would be a toe-to-toe fight to the finish. In that case, the hyena wins. The hyena only needs one good bite against its foe, and the battle is finished. A hyena could easily break the leg or skull of the smaller, lighter jackal. However, the same can’t be said of the jackal. The smaller canine would have to really dig in on the hyena by biting repeatedly. That might work for a time, but the hyena is fast and smart. It will catch the jackal and kill it. If these two animals fight on the savannah, the hyena comes out on top.
