I was doing some on-line research on hyenas—don’t ask—and came across this gem on Wikipedia, which I couldn’t resist sharing:
The majority of hyena species show little sexual dimorphism, with males being only slightly larger than the females. The Spotted Hyena is an exception to this, with females larger than males. One unusual feature of the Spotted Hyena is that females have an enlarged clitoris, called a pseudo-penis, demi-penis, or sometimes mistakenly referred to as a nanophallus. Female hyenas give birth, copulate, and urinate through their protruding genitalia, which stretches to allow the male penis to enter for couplation; it also stretches during birth. The anatomical position of the genitalia gives females complete control over which males are allowed to mate with them.
Researchers originally thought that one cause of this characteristic of the genitals was androgens that were introduced to the fetus very early on in its development. However, it was discovered that when the androgens were held back from the female fetus, the development of her genitalia was not altered. Spotted Hyenas have a matriarchal social structure that some biologists speculate evolved because it is in the best interests of the female hyena to dominate the male hyena as it provides no assistance in rearing the cubs.
Female hyenas give birth, copulate, and urinate through their protruding genitalia, which stretches to allow the male penis to enter for couplation; it also stretches during birth.
Wait, the vaginal canal is accessed *through* the clitoris?
Lifted from the wikipedia article about Spotted Hyenas:
”Compared to other hyenas, spotted hyenas show a greater relative amount of frontal cortex exclusive to motor control functions. Studies strongly suggest convergent evolution in spotted hyena and primate intelligence. A study done by evolutionary anthropologists at Duke University demonstrated that spotted hyenas outperform chimpanzees on cooperative problem-solving tests: captive pairs of spotted hyenas were challenged to tug two ropes in unison to earn a food reward, successfully cooperating and learning the maneuvers quickly without prior training. Experienced hyenas even helped inexperienced clan-mates to solve the problem. In contrast, chimps and other primates often require extensive training, and cooperation between individuals is not always as easy for them.”
But hey, male chimpanzees can make war on other groups of chimpanzees, spending years cooperatively planning campaigns to massacre other groups of chimpanzees in cold blood. Does your spotted hyena do that? Not so much.
Well, if they didn’t also have that hairpin turn and a riduclously high rate of death during birth, I’d be on team UR DOIN IT RITE.
they’re generally considered something of a cool evolutionary case, since giving birth through the pseudo penis has such high costs. I’ve heard it speculated that, since their recognition rituals involve basically sniffing the pseudo penis on females and penis on males, the appearance of the pseudo penis helped to establish their rank in the group.
I actually read about them recently… They do give birth through their clitoris, which serves as the birth canal. Because of that, the first birth is incredibly long and painful for the females. Weaker females die in giving birth, so really only the strongest survive and thus pass their “survivor” genes onto their children. Also, it’s almost guaranteed that the female hyenas lose their first baby because it smothers during birth due to the extended length of the birth canal and the fact that it hasn’t been stretched yet to facilitate the exit.
I recognize those recognition rituals …
@merelyacademic: Right?
@Feminizzle: Yeah, I read that in another piece about them. Yikes. Serious Darwinism at work. I wonder how their mortality rate/pain during labor compares to humans. I’ve always heard that humans experience both at a greater rate than other animals because of our large skulls.
For God’s sake, don’t let Dockers hear about this, or we’re going to have a series of trousers for male hyenas.
I was thinking the one in the picture was kindof cute, but forget it now!
@Joe: Scared of a little pseudophallus, are you?
I’d be more scared of the fact that their teeth can crush bones and they eat/attack EVERYTHING. When I was in Africa a couple years ago, hyenas got into our camp one night and totally tore up the place–whooping, giggling, barking, digging up food and trash, etc. We all stayed in our tents and did not come out until they were gone.
@Joe: Scared of a little pseudophallus, are you? what if its a big one?
Yes I’ve heard the sound of them alone is enough to chill you in the wild places.
@Joe: If one of them got hold of you, the size of it’s pseudophallus would be the least of your problems!
YES I became obsessed with lady hyenas when I went on a safari in South Africa. I’d love to base a band or a poem cycle on them.
I havent even been on a safari at disneyland. Looking again at your picture, I’m positive that 30 seconds after it was taken she ate the photographer!