Post by Zadkiel on May 16, 2016 11:23:33 GMT
Hermaphrodites are animals that are simultaneously both male and female. Although there are many creatures in the animal kingdom that are true hermaphrodites, including some fish; and many snails and worms, hyaenas are definitely not among them. This myth undoubtedly arose when people noticed that hyaenas with large pendulous udders (indicating they were obviously females) could suddenly develop impressive phallic erections such that they also looked like males. Interestingly, although a female hyaena has a uterus and ovaries internally, externally she does in fact appear to have "masculinised" genitalia. That is, the female's clitoris is enormously elongated to form a fully erectile pseudopenis through which she urinates, copulates and gives birth. Furthermore, her vaginal labia are folded over; and filled with connective and fatty tissues to form structures that look very much like the male's scrotal sac. These male-like external genitalia are obvious even in female hyaena cubs at birth. When hyaenas mate, the male inserts his erect phallus into the female's flaccid one. The walls of the pseudopenis become relatively thin and elastic late in pregnancy, such that the female can deliver her 1 kg babies without dying in the process. Nevertheless, the posterior surface of the pseudopenis does tear when a female first gives birth and it is ever after marked by a vertical band of pink scar tissue. Hyaenas of both sexes develop phallic erections when they engage in "greeting ceremonies" with other hyaenas from whom they have been separated for a while.
