Through their pseudo-penis, spotted hyena females urinate, copulate and give birth.
Advertisement
The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is a sophisticated predator with a matriarchal social structure—a society dominated by females—and an anatomy that challenges everything we thought we knew about the animal kingdom.
The females are larger than males, and even the lowest-ranking female outranks every male in the clan. Their physical strength is not the only trait that sets them apart; they also possess a remarkable organ: a “pseudo-penis”: An elongated clitoris that visually resembles a penis and is located in a similar position on the hyena's body.
This anatomical structure forms during embryonic development as a result of exposure to male sex hormones (androgens) that originate from the mother, cross the placenta, and are converted to testosterone in the fetus. These hormones give females their powerful, male-like appearance, influence their behavior, and cement their dominant status within the clan.
A female hyena urinates, copulates, and even gives birth through the tip of the penis-like clitoris—a difficult and dangerous process that comes at a heavy price: many cubs die during the mother’s first delivery [1].
Thus, hyenas live on the edge of an evolutionary paradox: They possess a cumbersome and risky reproductive system that has persisted for millions of years because it reinforces their unique social structure—large clans ruled by massive, powerful females—which grants them a significant evolutionary advantage.
Hebrew editing: Smadar Raban
English editing: Elee Shimshoni
References:
[1] Article on the formation of the pseudopenis in female hyenas during embryonic development
Netali holds a Master’s degree in Biology from Tel Aviv University. She spent ten years at the Weizmann Institute managing a laboratory in the Department of Molecular Genetics and is now a researcher at Da-Ta Biotech.
