The Family Hyaenidae comprises hyenas and the aardwolf, medium- to large-sized carnivorous mammals native to Africa and parts of Asia. Hyenas are known for their strong jaws and teeth capable of crushing bones, social behavior in clans (especially spotted hyenas), and opportunistic feeding, ranging from hunting to scavenging. The aardwolf, by contrast, is specialized for insectivory, feeding primarily on termites. Members of Hyaenidae play important ecological roles as predators and scavengers, helping control populations of herbivores and cleaning up carrion, and they exhibit complex communication through vocalizations, scent marking, and social hierarchies.