I previously discussed a similar topic concerning grizzly bears, and it may surprise some to know that lions and grizzlies are not closely related, nor do they engage in similar ways. Grizzly bears rely on brute strength, utilizing their powerful arms and shoulder muscles, along with their weight, to maul their opponents. Their goal is not necessarily to deliver a throat bite but rather to bring down their prey through massive hemorrhaging.

Cats, including lions, have a different strategy. Their primary objective is to close in on the throat or back of the neck. Every movement they make is aimed at obtaining an opportunity to latch their jaws onto their opponent’s neck, particularly when hunting alone. In the case of hunting as a pride, not every lion focuses on the throat; it’s usually the first one who seizes the chance. The others will bite and hold any available part to support the one with access to the neck. Nevertheless, the ultimate goal for the hunting team, as a collective unit, is to secure a throat bite.

The main weapon of a lion is its jaws, with the paws and claws serving a supporting role. Unlike grizzlies, lions don’t rely on swiping paws and claws to deliver a killing blow. Lion paws are powerful and can slash flesh or grip their opponent, aiding in achieving a throat bite.

In a one-on-one fight between a hyena and a lion, it is unlikely that a hyena would be killed by a neck-breaking blow. Lions do not typically kill in that manner. If a lion were to swipe at the head of a hyena, it would likely result in tearing up the hyena’s face or knocking it over. The relatively short limbs of cats do not generate enough momentum to break necks with a swipe. Moreover, the neck of a hyena, well-muscled and supported by adjoining powerful shoulder muscles, is not a particularly vulnerable point in their anatomy. Hyenas have proportionately thick and well-developed necks.

However, once a lion manages to secure its jaws on either the front or back of a hyena’s neck, the vertebrae will be crushed or separated almost instantly, leading to the hyena’s defeat. Nevertheless, due to the lion’s paws primarily serving as support for their jaws and the robust nature of a hyena’s neck, it is unlikely that a direct fight between a lion and a hyena would result in the hyena dying from a broken neck caused by the lion’s paw. The hyena would lose, but not in that specific manner.

As with any questions regarding animal behavior, there can be individual exceptions, as behaviors are never absolute. However, the scenario described is highly unlikely.