What Do You Call A Female Hyena?

Africa is home to some of the greatest animal species in the world, but the Hyena stands out as one of the most interesting animals within the continent. Male animals lead many of the groups and clans in Africa, but females are often the most dominant among hyenas. Hyenas also have unique biological traits, making them a fascinating animal to study. Despite female hyenas having plenty of interesting facts, most wildlife enthusiasts are unaware of basic information about the amazing species.

This article will enhance your knowledge of hyenas, with a special emphasis on the fascinating female hyena and her unique traits. We’ll cover the iconic laugh, hierarchy within hyena clans, and also some information about male hyenas. But first, what do you call a female hyena, and do they have the same scientific name as their male counterparts?

What Do You Call A Female Hyena?

A common misconception is that a female hyena is called a “bitch” the same as most dog species. However, this isn’t true, as female hyenas are simply called “female hyenas” when referring to them in the wild and captivity. Although hyenas share similar visual traits with dogs, they are not part of the dog species and instead have their own family. Hyenas are part of the Hyaenidae family, meaning they don’t share the same naming conventions as dogs or cats. Hyaenidae is also the hyena’s scientific name, with both males and females sharing the name. Some people refer to female cats as queens once they have given birth to kittens, but this isn’t something experts do when talking about hyenas. 

However, scientists will sometimes call the leader of a hyena clan a “queen” if the most dominant member of the clan is a female hyena. Despite the fact that strength and ferocity typically ranks hyena clans, it’s remarkable that female hyenas often assume leadership roles. Respect is one of the most important aspects of a hyena clan, meaning the leader can never show weakness in front of their fellow clan members. Despite all the challenges involved in running a successful hyena clan, females are usually the leader of the group in the wild. So, if you’re certain that a female hyena is the leader of a clan, you can call her a queen or simply a female hyena.

Regardless of gender, a baby hyena is called a cub. Remarkably, the Spotted hyena is born nearly full-developed from day one, often making Spotted hyena birth incredibly difficult. One of the only traits the Spotted hyena develops in adulthood is its adult markings, but most of their other attributes are the same as their first day on earth, showing just how amazing these largely misunderstood creatures are. Many tribes in Africa see the hyena as a sign of witchcraft or have a natural fear of hyenas in the wild. You should of course never approach a hyena clan, but some hyena clans have “accepted” humans when in captivity.

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

Do Female Hyenas Laugh? 

A hyena’s laugh is probably one of the most iconic traits in the animal kingdom, with the sometimes terrifying sound known by everyone around the world. However, not all hyenas are capable of “laughing”, with only the Spotted hyena and Striped hyena making the legendary laughing sound. The Spotted hyena is the most vocal. Both male and female hyenas can laugh, with their gender playing no role in their vocal abilities. Female Spotted hyenas can laugh just as loud and frequently as their male clan members, with no major differences between male and female hyenas in most aspects of their lives. But why do hyenas laugh, and is it really because they find something funny?

As cool as it would be for hyenas to have a sense of humor, sadly, they aren’t actually laughing. The sound is identical to a human’s laugh, but it’s actually a sign of increased stress. A hyena clan will regularly come face-to-face with lions when scavenging a carcass. This is one of the main times you’ll hear the iconic hyena laugh, with the species using the sound to communicate between clan members. Each hyena has a unique sound to their laugh, allowing the clan to know exactly which hyena is in trouble or where they are located. Spotted hyenas have multiple noises, using them to either alert their clan to threats or even show signs of compassion to another clan member.

Hyena cubs spend most of their time near their mother, meaning female hyenas are used to hearing their baby’s “voice” at an early age. Young hyenas communicate a lot with their mothers, who are often the most dominant hyena in a clan. As mentioned, it’s not uncommon for female hyenas to lead their clan, which is unlike most animal packs in the wild. Male and female hyena cubs will both communicate with their mothers.

Do Female Hyenas Bully Males?

Hyenas might seem scary, but they aren’t aggressive for no reason. While female hyenas are usually in charge of most hyena clans across Africa, they won’t go out of their way to attack or bully a male hyena. That being said, hyena clans maintain a strict dominance hierarchy, often resulting in physical confrontations among clan members. However, these battles are purely for hierarchy reasons, with many hyena clans having a family dynamic. It’s highly unlikely that a female hyena would bully their own male cub, but they would certainly show no weakness toward any member of their clan. The leader of a hyena clan will always be the main target for rival hyenas, so they can never show weakness and will often hide injuries or illness to appear strong.

One reason the female hyena is often in leading positions within their clans is the increased testosterone levels within female hyenas. Although a female’s testosterone will drop as they get older, they usually have much higher levels during their infancy. This means when most clans are establishing their ranks via violence, it’s the female hyena who will usually come out on top against their male counterparts. But again, any violence or aggression shown between hyenas will almost always be political, with most hyenas living happily amongst their own kind for the majority of the time.

zoofanatic, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What Is A Male Hyena Called?

Similar to how a female hyena is simply called a “female hyena”, the male hyena also doesn’t have a fancy name. You can sometimes call a female hyena a queen once she is in charge of a clan, but this isn’t a necessity. When you’re referring to a male hyena, it’s best to keep it simple and just call them a male hyena. Some dominant males could be called kings, especially if they’re the leader of a wild clan, which is usually led by a female. But this isn’t scientific or needed, with humans usually increasing the stature of popular wild animals by giving them nicknames instead of sticking with the facts.

Despite the female hyenas dominating the higher ranks, male hyenas are usually bigger than their fellow clan members. However, there is a slight difference with Spotted hyenas, as female Spotted hyenas are frequently bigger than males. While female hyenas are naturally caring towards their young, male hyenas will not raise their own cubs. Only a male Striped hyena will help the mother in raising their cub.

Featured Image by Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.