Tiehyen

Tiehyen is a fictional carnivorous mammal used in fantasy and speculative fiction. In most depictions it resembles a medium-sized, hyena-like canid with a mottled coat and a stocky build. The concept appears in collaborative world-building for role-playing games.

Taxonomy in fictional settings places tiehyen in the family Tiehyenidae, with the genus Tiehyen. Described species include Tiehyen nocturnus and Tiehyen vulpes, though names vary by author. The taxonomy is intentionally flexible to suit different worlds.

Adults weigh roughly 25 to 60 kilograms, with body lengths around 0.9 to 1.3 meters plus tail. They have a strong jaw, elongated snout, rounded ears, and a short, brindled or sandy coat. They mark territory with scent glands and rump displays.

Tiehyen are typically nocturnal and social, forming small packs of 3–8 individuals. They are opportunistic feeders, hunting small-to-medium vertebrates and scavenging carrion. They rely on keen sense of smell and hearing and communicate with howls, growls, and scent marks.

Reproduction is seasonal in fictional settings, with litters of 2–4 cubs. Cubs are cared for by the pack. In lore, tiehyen symbolize resilience and scavenger ethics, appearing in myths and games as both antagonists and guardians. Conservation status is not defined outside fiction.