New study: Spotted hyenas communicate more nuancedly during play than previously known

However, when several animals play at the same time, the visual signal is not always sufficient. "Wenn mehrere Hyänen miteinander spielen und sie sich nicht sicher sein können, dass alle Teilnehmenden das entspannte offene Maul sehen, dann setzen sie zusätzliche Signale in Form von spielspezifischen Lautäußerungen ein", explained study leader Oliver Höner from the Leibniz-IZW. These acoustic signals would be registered and understood by all participants.

Known and new sounds

Overall, the researchers identified 13 different vocalizations during play. Five of these had not previously been scientifically described. The spectrum reportedly ranges from barking to giggling and growling to squeaking.

Spotted hyenas live in large groups, called clans, which can comprise up to 130 animals. The social associations are organized matriarchally and are characterized by a stable hierarchy. Females are significantly larger and more dominant than males.

Lifestyle and social structure

The well-known "laugh" of spotted hyenas is, according to the research team, not an expression of humor, but a complex signal that contains information about age, identity, and social status. The social abilities of the animals within a clan are vaguely reminiscent of those of some primates.

Spotted hyenas are among the most successful hunters in Africa. Due to their strikingly elongated clitoris, the so-called pseudo-penis, females were long mistakenly classified as hermaphrodites. The image as treacherous villains, attributed to them by the Disney film "The Lion King," contradicts the observations of behavioral research.

Play behavior into adulthood

Spotted hyenas reportedly play not only as juveniles but also as adults – a behavior that is comparatively rare among mammals. The combination of visual and acoustic signals helps the animals keep play peaceful despite their powerful jaws and pronounced aggression potential.

According to the authors' assessment, the results underscore how multifaceted the communication of social carnivores is. They also provide arguments against culturally entrenched distorted images that have long portrayed hyenas as malicious.

The observations were collected, among other places, in Tanzania as part of the Ngorongoro Hyena Project. The project is carried by the Leibniz-IZW and has been researching the behavior of free-living spotted hyenas for years.

With the study, a systematic description of the play communication of this species is now available for the first time. Further investigations are to clarify how the vocalizations change over the course of life and what role individual sounds play in the social structure.