Social Systems Sexual mimicry
hyena greeting ceremony
because females dominant sex among spotted hyenas, respected. subordinate female hyenas initiate ‘greeting’ dominant female hyenas sign of respect , forced if refuse. greeting used hyenas reflects asymmetry of ranking; animal being greeted (the subordinate individual) extends hind legs , individual doing greeting (the dominant hyena) licks or sniffs erect peniform clitoris. lifting hind legs, hyena being greeted (the subordinate hyena) exposes vulnerable body part other individual, act reflects inferiority. well, when hind legs lifted, scent can identified other individual. subordinate hyenas expose scent more high-ranking hyenas. greeting, however, not commonly seen between males , adult females; when occur, restricted males of median or higher rank greeting dominant females.
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