WERTHEIMER: That is Ed, the hyena from Disney's "Lion King." Well, the real hyena laugh actually sounds a lot like that. (Soundbite of hyena laughing) ...

The spotted hyena is who always seems to be laughing at jokes. The other species, Aardwolf, striped hyena and the brown hyena, cannot laugh but have other distinct vocalization sounds.

Spotted hyenas are the most well-known, specifically for their signature "laughing." These hyenas often weigh between 110 to 190 pounds and can stand up to 59 inches tall, according to National ...

Are hyenas the most misunderstood animals in the wild? They're intelligent, have a sophisticated social order, and their famous laugh isn't even a laugh. From Killer IQ: Lion vs. Hyena.

Spotted hyenas are the most well-known, specifically for their signature "laughing." These hyenas often weigh between 110 to 190 pounds and can stand up to 59 inches tall, according to National ...

A laughing hyena communicates their social rank and age, helping them negotiate for their fair share of a meal, or to tell a peer to back off. Spotted hyenas produce plenty further vocalizations, too.

· If you ever hear a spotted hyena making a sound, you might think it is laughing hysterically. It isn't. When a hyena is excited or scared, it lets out a noise that is a combination of a strange ...