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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 .
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.
Bidirectional sex changers: Where an organism has female and male reproductive organs, but may act either as a female or as a male during different stages in life. [15] Example: Lythrypnus dalli (Family Lythrypnus) are a group of coral reef fish in which bidirectional sex change occurs. Once a social hierarchy is established a fish changes sex ...
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.
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.
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.
Also unlike spotted hyenas, all adult members of the clan will carry food back to the cubs. [7] They are not fully weaned and do not leave the vicinity of their den until they reach 14 months of age. [6] Brown hyenas reach full size at an age of around 30 months [14] and have a life span of about 12 to 15 years. [15]
The naming of hybrid animals depends on the sex and species of the parents. The father giving the first half of his species' name and the mother the second half of hers. (I.e. a pizzly bear has a polar bear father and grizzly bear mother whereas a grolar bear's parents would be reversed.)