Why Do Hyenas Laugh?

When people think about hyenas, the first thing that will come to mind is the iconic laugh. Characterized in multiple films, the hyena’s laugh sets them apart from any other animal in the world. Some find the laugh to be intimidating, but hopefully after learning more about this fascinating hyena behavior, you’ll be much more forgiving towards this sometimes “scary” mammal. In this article, we’ll be answering the question of why do hyenas laugh, but first we need to correct the negative stereotypes towards this amazing creature.

For years, the public perception of hyenas has been negative, with many seeing them as “rodents” or misunderstanding their intelligence. But the hyena is a beautiful animal, and although they might seem intimidating, they have a natural caring nature towards each other when living together in the wild. Each hyena has a completely unique personality, and they are highly emotional beings. But why do hyenas laugh, and what can we learn about their behavior when taking on some of the toughest big cats in the world?

How Do Hyenas Laugh?

A hyena will usually have its mouth open when laughing, but this iconic sound isn’t actually a laugh. The species is highly intelligent, meaning a hyena can judge the age and rank of a member of its clan by the pitch of the laugh. In wild clans, the leader is typically a female hyena, and the ranking system is based on dominance. This means if a female hyena laughs, the other clan members will know if she’s the leader or not. Hyenas can also tell if the sound is from a familiar clan member or a stranger. But how do hyenas laugh, and why do they have so much in common with dogs?

As mentioned, a hyena’s mouth will usually be open when they are laughing or giggling. This isn’t a sign of happiness, with the laugh only occurring in stressful situations. Hyenas frequently run or remain active while laughing. Their giggles last around five seconds, and are a key part of a clan’s communication when hunting. These are closer to barks than actual laughs. Hyenas have multiple noises they use to communicate and identify with their fellow clan members, but hyenas also use these noises with their cubs. 

Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Why Do Hyenas Laugh?

Although this iconic noise is one of the standout characteristics of the species, the hyena laugh isn’t as joyful as it sounds. Hyena are a rank-based society, with their clans ruled by the toughest of the group. Every hyena has a different pitch to their whoops and giggles, but why do hyenas laugh? 

Hyenas laugh in stressful situations, including hunting, facing predators, and communicating as a group. The laugh isn’t a sign of enjoyment, but is vital to the clans communication. The clan uses laughs to alert other hyenas to a threat, which is important when taking on their lifelong enemy, the lion. Hyenas hunt in packs and face lions on a daily basis, but the king of Africa is often no match for a well-organized clan. While hyenas are beautiful creatures, and have previously accepted humans into their clans, they rule with violence and will always stand their ground against any opponent. Their iconic laugh not only alerts hyenas to threats but also describes their rank and identity to the other clan members. Younger hyenas will usually be among the lowest ranks, meaning they will be highly respectful towards the senior members of the clan when they laugh or whoop.

When Do Hyenas Laugh?

Hyenas are a very vocal animal, and they have plenty of ways to communicate a number of emotions amongst their clan members. Hyena cubs emit a gentle squeal when they are apart from their mothers for a while. Adult hyenas also show this emotion with the same noise when they’ve separated themselves from the clan for a long period of time. A hyena’s whoop is similar to a nametag, with any hyena in the clan able to identify who is making the noise and why. But when do hyenas laugh?

The laugh or giggle noise will only come during risky situations or in tense moments. It doesn’t matter how old the hyena is, nor does it matter what rank the hyena holds in the clan. Although we often call this noise a laugh or giggle, there’s nothing funny about their “laughter” and any hyena that hears a giggle will instantly be on high alert. Clans use giggles to coordinate attacks on both prey and predators, showcasing their high level of organization. Many underestimate the intelligence of hyenas, but these noises are used to communicate hate, love, fear, and even surprise. 

Which Species of Hyenas Laugh?

Most films or cartoons will depict a hyena as constantly laughing and giggling, but many are unaware that not all hyenas can laugh. A lot of wildlife fans are unaware of which species of hyenas laugh, with hyenas largely misinterpreted or underestimated because of their sometimes scary appearance and violent past when fighting against their rivals. The spotted hyena is the only type of hyena that makes the iconic laughing sound. However, all hyenas make communicating noises, with no clan able to function without a hierarchy and ranking system. Hyenas keep these systems in place with violence and communication, and female hyenas dominate the upper ranks of most clans in the wild. 

There are four hyena species in the world, with the most common being the spotted hyena. The spotted hyena, which is the only hyena species capable of laughing, is often used in documentaries and films because of its distinct look and behavior. However, the brown hyena, aardwolf, and stripped hyena are all amazing animals. The aardwolf and brown hyena have very different appearances, but still communicate in similar ways to the spotted hyena. The spotted hyena is the most vocal, with twelve documented noises used to communicate in their wild clans. 

Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Do Hyenas Laugh Like Humans?

When a hyena is laughing or giggling, many people misunderstand the meaning behind this fascinating behavior. Hyenas laugh when they’re nervous or under attack from predators, meaning, unlike humans, they don’t laugh because of enjoyment or entertainment. Although the simple answer to do hyenas laugh like humans is no, there is one gray area in human behavior which is closely related to hyenas. A lot of humans have a “nervous laugh” which is usually displayed in stressful or upsetting situations. A hyena will only laugh when it feels stressed, meaning human laughter can at times mimic the behavior we see in hyenas when they’re hunting or attacking a predator.

Despite the reason for the hyena’s laugh having very limited resemblance to humans, this doesn’t mean hyenas are just savage killers that fight against lions. Many of the emotions shown by hyenas are similar to humans, with the “family” dynamic very much in place in all clans. Every noise the hyena makes is identifiable to each member of the clan, and no hyena is the same. Their unique whoop serves as their name, and they can express a wide range of emotions, including sadness when two hyenas have been separated for a long time.

Featured Image by zoofanatic, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.