DNA analysis highlights morphological scat misidentification for hyena species

Field identification of carnivore scats is a common approach used, for example, for wildlife monitoring or dietary studies, but assignment of scats to species relying on morphology can be prone to error. Hyena scats are generally assumed to be easy to recognize due to their unique chalky appearance, but the extent of misidentification has rarely been quantified. We collected 204 scats across sites in Botswana, where brown ( Parahyaena brunnea ) and spotted hyenas ( Crocuta crocuta ) co-occur, and in Kenya, where striped ( Hyaena hyaena ) and spotted hyenas overlap. Each scat was assigned to a species in the field and later analyzed with DNA metabarcoding to confirm carnivore identity. While overall field accuracy was relatively high (86%), misidentification rates varied among sites and species, reaching 30-100% for scats assigned to brown or striped hyenas. In contrast, scats identified as spotted hyena were generally reliable. Misidentification was lowest when samples were collected at latrines with the support of experienced local trackers. Our findings highlight that morphology-based scat identification, even for hyenas, can be unreliable, and highlight the value of integrating molecular tools to strengthen scat-based studies in carnivore ecology.