Hyenas, are they both male/female?

Question

Sorry, I am not sure I am spelling Hyena right, but you know the "laughing" wild animal? Those. Anyway, I heard from my boyfriend that they have both s*x organs? Is this true?

Answer 1

no

Answer 2

naw they really have s*x then two come in one thewn the have it n have it till they get a fat pig like a big ***

Answer 3

No its not true, the female hyena does have an enlarged s*x organ so sometimes it can be mistaken for a male.

There is a definite male and a definite female in these species.

Answer 4

No it isn't.  Male hyenas are fully male and females are fully female.  In fact, they live in matriarchal clans with a dominant "queen" hyena.  The confusion stems from the females having a "false p***s".  This isn't a p***s at all but an enlarged clitoris (purely female anatomy).  The shape and position of this extension of the female anatomy gives the female hyena complete control over when and who they mate with as males can not force themselves on a female and hope to successfully reproduce.

Edit:  This refers specifically to the Spotted Hyena, not any of the other species of hyena.

Answer 5

Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) were once thought to be hermaphrodites, due to females having an enlarged clitoris almost the same size and shape as the male's p***s (it's often called a pseudopenis), through which they mate and give birth - the entrance to the v****a is blocked by fatty lumps called 'pseudotestes'. These features serve to make female genitals appear very similar to those of males, but each s*x is distinct and separate. Females are larger and stronger than males, and dominate them in all aspects of their society - even the lowest-ranked female outranks the highest-ranked male. The clan is led by a dominant female called the matriarch - her cubs will inherit her status and can bully even adult hyenas of lower rank.

Incidentally, the other hyena species, the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) and brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea) do not have the spotted hyena's unusual adaptations. In these species, males are larger than females, and females have 'normal' genitalia.