FunNature & AnimalIs it true that hyenas are hermaphrodites?

Is it true that hyenas are hermaphrodites?

No. For a time, naturalists thought that spotted or spotted hyenas ( Crocuta crocuta ) were hermaphrodites , that is, animals that are simultaneously male and female . But it was a false perception mainly due to the fact that the female’s urogenital system looks more like a penis than a vagina . The female in this species is approximately 10% larger than the male and substantially more aggressive, accentuating her masculine appearance. But, as we said, it is his genital apparatus that had zoologists confused.

And it is that the vaginal lips of hyenas fold in such a way that they form a structure more similar to the scrotal sac of a male . The clitoris is very large and elongated, similar to a penis. It is also erectile and fulfills several functions. The female hyena uses it to urinate, copulate and give birth, by the way, quite difficult. What is not clear is the reason for this evolutionary oddity. According to the French biologist Léo Grasset, there must have been a selection for the females to decide to imitate the males , perhaps to reduce conflicts between them, who in their species are the dominant sex.

The gestation period in these mammals is 110 days , after which the females normally give birth to two young. In periods of abundance, female offspring are usually born that remain in the clan, while in times of scarcity the birth of males that soon leave the family group predominates . Males are sexually mature at two years and females at three.

Although they are considered scavengers, hyenas are rather opportunistic hunters or scavengers . This means that they usually hunt, but they eat carrion when it is advantageous to them. Hyenas hunt in groups of 10 to 30 individuals, always led by a dominant female. Its powerful jaws and molars are designed for a 100 percent carnivorous diet.

Hyenas are capable of crushing the bones, teeth, and antlers of their prey . Their diet includes all kinds of fauna, from insects to zebras, wildebeest or giraffes. As we have said, they feed on both corpses and live prey, mainly dying and sick animals. Disputes over mammal carcasses between spotted hyenas and lions are very common. These have the upper hand if the group of hyenas is not very large, but otherwise the king of the jungle must be careful. And, thanks to their powerful teeth, hyenas can quickly crush bones and take parts of the corpse before other carnivores arrive. When they are full, they usually hide their food in the mud and leave it as a reserve for when they are hungry. They have a very good memory and are very intelligent and highly social.

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