Dire Hyena (3.5e Monster)

''This enormous grey carnivore has bony ridges covering its paws, snout, and spine. Its eyes reflect the light, giving them a slight green glow.''

Dire hyenas are massive predators of the desert that hunt their prey in large packs. Typically, a lone hyena will attack only wounded or otherwise apparently weak prey, but in packs they can take down game much larger than they could normally, such as lions, crocodiles, rhinoceroses, and occasionally elephants. They are primarily nocturnal creatures, preferring to hunt at night when it’s cooler and easier to ambush prey.

Combat
Like their smaller cousins, dire hyenas try to circle their prey and cut off any route of escape, then attack as a group to bring the foe down quickly and efficiently.

Improved Grab : To use this ability, a dire hyena must hit a Huge or smaller opponent with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.

Skills: *Dire hyenas have a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth. *It also has a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent.

Dire Hyenas as Animal Companions
A dire hyena is an appropriate animal companion for a druid of at least 7th level, or a ranger of at least 14th level.