Our underestimated friends, the hyenas

  • by Jana Meyer
  • 18 Jun, 2019

Find here some interesting facts about our (often underestimated) friends the hyenas. 

And believe us, they are nothing like the hyenas in "The Lion King", they are more than the carrion-eating villains ;)

1. A hyena's laugh indicates social status.
Hyenas don’t just laugh for fun. Scientists say that the pitch and the note frequency (or tone) of a hyena’s laugh can give an indication of its age and social status.


2. Female hyenas rule.
Female spotted hyenas are more muscular and more aggressive than their male counterparts. This is because the females have three times as much testosterone in their bodies. As a result, spotted hyena societies are matriarchal. Even baby girl cubs rule over the boys.


3. There are four distinct species of hyenas – the aardwolf, the brown hyena, the stripped hyena and the spotted hyena.


4. The female spotted hyena has a penis.

Female spotted hyenas have a pseudo-penis that is basically an elongated clitoris. Some pseudo-penises can grow up to seven inches long, totally besting the average length of the human penis.


5. And last but not least: Did you know that spotted hyenas have acute sense of hearing? They can hear predators hunting or feeding on carcass from a distance of up to 10 kilometers! Amazing!

Share by: