Crocuta crocuta shine ainihin sunan kimiyya ga Spotted Hyena, wanda shine nau'in kurayen da ke zaune a yankin Saharar Afirka. " an samo shi daga kalmar Helenanci "κροκόττας" (krokottas), wadda aka yi amfani da ita wajen kwatanta wata halitta ta almara wadda aka ce tana da jikin zaki, kan kare, da jelar maciji. Takamaiman ma'anar "crocuta" tana nufin nau'in hyena da aka gano kanta.
