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Male and female reproductive systems of the spotted hyena. In mammals, all intact developmentally typical males have a penis, but the clitoris in the females of the following species is sufficiently enlarged that it is usually termed a pseudo-penis: spotted hyena, [1] [2] juvenile fossa, [3] binturong, [4] lemur [5] and spider monkey.
Hyenas are known to have preyed on humans in prehistory: human hair has been found in fossilized hyena dung dating back 195,000 to 257,000 years. [70] Some paleontologists believe that competition and predation by cave hyenas ( Crocuta crocuta spelaea ) in Siberia was a significant factor in delaying human colonization of Alaska .
It is more commonly seen within invertebrate species, although sexual mimicry is also seen among vertebrates such as spotted hyenas. Sexual mimicry is commonly used as a mating strategy to gain access to a mate, a defense mechanism to avoid more dominant individuals, or a survival strategy.
In ordinary circumstances, striped hyenas are extremely timid around humans, though they may show bold behaviours toward people at night. [10] On rare occasions, striped hyenas have preyed on humans. In the 1880s, a hyena was reported to have attacked humans, especially sleeping children, over a three-year period in the Erivan Governorate ...
A fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) in Madagascar.The fossa is the first described mammal to display transient masculinization. Transient masculinization (or transient virilization) is a biological phenomenon in which female individuals of certain species temporarily exhibit physical or behavioral traits typically associated with males.
Human reproduction naturally takes place as internal fertilization by sexual intercourse. During this process, the man inserts his erect penis into the woman's vagina and then either partner initiates rhythmic pelvic thrusts until the man achieves orgasm , which leads to ejaculation of semen containing sperm into the vaginal canal.
Local folklore about hyenas often gives them powers such as gender switching (males and females are difficult to distinguish), shape shifting, and human speech—all of which encourages the belief that the hyena may have contributed to the original myth of the crocotta.
The creature is often portrayed as a magically powerful healer, blacksmith, or woodcutter in its human form, but recognizable through signs like a hairy body, red and gleaming eyes, and a nasal voice. [7] Members of the Korè cult of the Bambara people in Mali "become" hyenas by imitating the animals' behavior through masks and roleplay. These ...