Female Hyena Anatomy

The process by which female genitalia is made to appear more like male genitalia. For hyenas size matters and the females clitoris is larger than any males penis.

Fantastically Wrong The Poor Misunderstood Hyena Can T

The pseudopenises of female spotted hyenas crocuta crocuta however are different.

Female hyena anatomy. The female spotted hyena runs things in the cackle. The labia vaginal lips of the female hyena have grown together and are backed with pads of fat making them look like a males scrotum. These glands produce a white creamy secretion which is pasted onto grass stalks by everting the rectum.

Female hyenas dont have penises but it sure looks like they do and we still arent quite sure why. Unlike most mammalian societies female spotted hyenas run the show and are significantly more muscular and aggressive than males. We might know the hyena for its infamous laugh but the female hyena anatomy is definitely no laughing matter.

Males weigh 405550 kg 89121 lb while females averaging 445639 kg 98141 lb in weight. However the penis like clitoris exacts a severe penalty during a mothers first. The zambian population is relatively larger and heavier.

Unusually among hyaenids and mammals in general the female spotted hyena is considerably larger than the male. The females masculine characteristics do offer advantages in competing for food and protecting cubs said drea who is an assistant professor of biological anthropology and anatomy. The females have higher levels of testosterone than the males.

Anatomy adult hyenas reach a length of about 951658 cm 3765 in and they stand 70915 cm 2836 in high at the shoulder. Female spotted hyenas have whats known as a pseudo penis its really a clitoris that has grown up to 7 inches outside the body making it resemble the real thing. The female spotted hyena is significantly larger and more aggressive than the male as well as possessing a long clitoris that resembles a penis so closely that early naturalists believed that there existed no female spotted hyenas.

Spotted hyenas live in a clan dominated by one female known as the matriarch and all females outrank males. They can be up to 90 as large as male penises and at least from the outside look almost exactly like actual. To see it in all its glory click here.

Both sexes have a pair of anal glands which open into the rectum just inside the anal opening. Males are submissive cautious and fearful.

Muton The Oddness Of Hyaenas