Hyena fact 4: Spotted hyena clans are as complex as many primate societies.
Spotted hyena clans are strikingly similar in their complexity to baboon and macaque societies. The social status of a female spotted hyenas – like female baboons – is actually determined by the social rank of her mother. Spotted hyenas remain with their mothers for an extended period of time – about 15 months – in order for important social learning to take place. In a spotted hyena society, even the lowest ranking female is dominant to the highest ranking male.
Pictured: Spotted hyenas
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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