{"id":2191046,"date":"2026-05-14T06:00:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T05:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2191046"},"modified":"2026-05-09T11:52:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T10:52:55","slug":"females-can-afford-to-be-choosier-in-their-social-relationships-because-of-their-higher-ranking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/females-can-afford-to-be-choosier-in-their-social-relationships-because-of-their-higher-ranking\/","title":{"rendered":"“Females can afford to be choosier in their social relationships because of their higher ranking…”"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the four species highlighted in\u00a0David Attenborough’s\u00a0Dynasties II<\/em>\u00a0series, female spotted hyenas are one of nature’s most interesting matriarchal societies.<\/p>\n

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Fanie Heymans \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n

Back in 2018, scientists from\u00a0Michigan State University\u00a0studied a group in the Masai Mara, Kenya and found that spotted hyenas practise a group dynamic that’s as complicated as many primate species.<\/p>\n

The sex and rank of the individual can have a huge impact on how their social connections develop as they age. \u201cYoung female hyenas developed more complex network positions than males, and their positions were dependent on their social rank in the clan,\u201d says Julie Turner, lead author at Michigan State University.<\/p>\n

\u201cMales generally disengaged from interacting with others as they matured, which is appropriate, as they usually need to move to another clan to enjoy mating opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why is it difficult to be a male laughing hyena?<\/h2>\n

Life as a male hyena is not such a laughing matter, because although spotted hyena society is acknowledged as the most social of all carnivores, it is also matriarchal. The larger females, which have a pseudo-penis, dominate the males.<\/p>\n

Group living is also highly competitive, not co-operative, with feeding and mating rights being given exclusively to those who can over-power their counterparts. Females also provide strictly for their own cubs, and males provide no paternal care.<\/p>\n

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Young hyenas are cared for by their mothers. \u00a9 Julie Turner<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n

Hyenas, which can live up to 22 years, typically live in large, stable groups known as clans, which can consist of over 100 individuals.<\/p>\n

Why do female hyenas dominate the males?<\/h2>\n

Females can afford to be choosier in their social relationships because of their higher ranking. They also remain in the same clan for their entire life, so will have a greater understanding of the clan\u2019s social environment.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, males frequently disperse into new clans, so automatically become the lowest ranking member. It is more beneficial for them to follow stricter rules when making friends.<\/p>\n

Although long-term studies on animal group interactions are challenging, understanding why and how they form lasting relationships helps scientists gain a deeper understanding of social cooperation in mammals.<\/p>\n

This article<\/a> <\/em>by Stewart Wallis was first published by Discover Wildlife on 6 May 2026. Lead Image: Female spotted hyena \u00a9 Getty.<\/em><\/p>\n

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