Hyena: Difference between revisions
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Hyenas are highly intelligent animals, and some scientists claim they are of equal intelligence to certain [[ape]]s.<ref>Said by biologist Jeff Corwin, in an episode of "The Jeff Corwin Experience" concentrating on spotted hyenas</ref> One indication of hyena intelligence is that they will move their kills closer to each other to protect them from [[scavenger]]s; another indication is their strategic hunting methods.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lind |first=Hans |title= "Bogen om Dyrepsykologi"}}</ref> |
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The majority of hyena species show little sexual dimorphism, usually with males being only slightly larger than the females. The spotted hyena is an exception to this as females are larger than the males. One unusual feature of the spotted hyena is that females have an enlarged clitoris called a [[pseudo-penis]], demi-penis or sometimes mistakenly referred to as a nanophallus. Female hyenas give birth, copulate, and urinate through their protruding genitalia, which stretches to allow the male penis to enter for copulation, and it also stretches during birth. The anatomical position of the genitalia gives females total sexual control over who is allowed to mate with them. Researchers originally thought that one cause of this characteristic of the genitals was androgens that were introduced to the fetus very early on in its development. However, it was discovered that when the androgens were held back from the fetus, the development of the female genitalia was not altered.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} |
The majority of hyena species show little sexual dimorphism, usually with males being only slightly larger than the females. The spotted hyena is an exception to this as females are larger than the males. One unusual feature of the spotted hyena is that females have an enlarged clitoris called a [[pseudo-penis]], demi-penis or sometimes mistakenly referred to as a nanophallus. Female hyenas give birth, copulate, and urinate through their protruding genitalia, which stretches to allow the male penis to enter for copulation, and it also stretches during birth. The anatomical position of the genitalia gives females total sexual control over who is allowed to mate with them. Researchers originally thought that one cause of this characteristic of the genitals was androgens that were introduced to the fetus very early on in its development. However, it was discovered that when the androgens were held back from the fetus, the development of the female genitalia was not altered.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} |
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Hyenas have been used in animated movies many times, as well as having been rendered in live action films, commonly cast as hysterical and unhinged villains. Examples include those featured in the [[Disney]] [[animated film]] ''[[The Lion King]]'' who are called [[Shenzi, Banzai and Ed]], one ball-playing individual in ''[[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]]'', and many more shown in animated films. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 20:40, 15 April 2008
The majority of hyena species show little sexual dimorphism, usually with males being only slightly larger than the females. The spotted hyena is an exception to this as females are larger than the males. One unusual feature of the spotted hyena is that females have an enlarged clitoris called a pseudo-penis, demi-penis or sometimes mistakenly referred to as a nanophallus. Female hyenas give birth, copulate, and urinate through their protruding genitalia, which stretches to allow the male penis to enter for copulation, and it also stretches during birth. The anatomical position of the genitalia gives females total sexual control over who is allowed to mate with them. Researchers originally thought that one cause of this characteristic of the genitals was androgens that were introduced to the fetus very early on in its development. However, it was discovered that when the androgens were held back from the fetus, the development of the female genitalia was not altered.[citation needed]
References
See also
External links
- The rite of mouth-to-mouth wild hyena feeding in Harar, Ethiopia
- IUCN Conservation Union Hyaendiae Specialist Group
- Hyena: Wildlife summary from the African Wildlife Foundation
- Robin M. Weare's Hyena pages
- Excerpt about hyenas from Richard D. Estes's "The Safari Companion" (ISBN 1-890132-44-6)
- A mechanism for virilization of female spotted hyenas in utero
- evolution of the family
- Quick Guide - Spotted hyena (deals with intelligence and social interaction)
- Hyenas- Sociable and Smart