Ed from The Lion King is a spotted hyena , one of the three main hyena characters alongside Shenzi and Banzai.

Quick Scoop

  • Ed is a male hyena who serves as one of Scar’s comic-relief henchmen.
  • His specific species, as depicted in the film and related material, is the spotted hyena, the same type as the other hyenas in Scar’s clan.
  • He is characterized by his wild laughter, crossed eyes, and near-total lack of spoken dialogue, mostly communicating through giggles and grunts.

A Bit More About Ed

  • Ed appears throughout the original 1994 The Lion King as part of the hyena trio that chases Simba and works with Scar in the elephant graveyard and the Pride Lands.
  • Expanded universe sources (wikis and fan encyclopedias) consistently describe him as a high-ranking hyena within Shenzi’s clan, despite his goofy behavior.

TL;DR: Ed is not a lion or some mystery creature; he is a spotted hyena serving as comic-relief muscle for Scar.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.