Speothos crocuta (SciiFii)

The hyaena dog (Speothos crocuta) is a species of canid that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced to the jungles, open woodlands, mountainous areas, marshlands, jungles, cerrado-savannas, floodplains, pampas, chaco plains and semi-deserts across South America to help boost biodiversity. They are found across Peru, Patagonia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia, as well as through Central America and Mexico, although some populations now exist in the forests, mountains, open woodlands and grasslands in North America due to some intentional and accidental releases. The hyaena dogs are most closely related to the bush dog, which also belong to the genus Speothos. The hyaena dogs are one of the largest canids in the New World, growing on average to be about the size of a large red wolf (Canis rufus), although some individuals can grow slightly larger. The hyaena dogs fill the similar ecological niche to hyenas, which are not found in South America, and hyaena dogs have strong jaws and teeth to crush bones. Although primarily pack-hunting predators like spotted hyenas of Africa, Eurasia, and North America, the hyaena dogs are also scavengers of dead animals. The packs of the hyaena dogs are led by the dominant females. The conservation status of the hyaena dog is Least Concern due to successful efforts and the hyaena dog's wide range.