Female spotted hyenas have androgens (hormones) in their systems. These substances are associated with dominance and social status. Testosterone levels in spotted hyena females are as high as those in males. It’s thought that high levels of testosterone are transferred to male and female offspring through the placenta. This exposes both sexes to a high level of maleness during gestation. These steroids in adult females make them extremely aggressive, much more so than their male counterparts, despite being of similar physical size. The feeding system of spotted hyenas illustrates a clear advantage for females to be dominant. Spotted hyenas converge on freshly killed prey and eat as a group. Over twenty individuals may be vying for a piece of a kill, so competition is high. A group of spotted hyenas can transform a wildebeest to mere stains on the grass in a matter of minutes. High-ranking females are the first to indulge in a kill, along with their offspring. Low-ranking females and their offspring are next on the list, finally followed by adult males. Without question, females are socially dominant to males. There are clear ecological advantages to having high levels of androgens and testosterone. The extremely masculinized genitalia of spotted hyena female could simply be an evolutionary by-product.
Masai Mara National Reserve
Something instinctive prevents me from finding anything redeeming about hyenas. Big cats can still be cute and playful, wildebeest are adorably dumb and awkward looking, elephants… well elephants! But hyenas strike me as evil incarnate and genuinely scare me.
