They’re loud. They’re smart. Honestly, they are probably the most misunderstood carnivores on the planet. Most people think they know what a group of hyenas called is supposed to be—usually, they’ll point to the word "cackle"—but that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. If you’re just looking for a trivia answer, sure, a cackle works. But if you actually watch them in the wild, the word you’ll hear biologists like Kay Holekamp use is "clan."
There is a huge difference between a collective noun and a biological reality.
A cackle describes the sound. A clan describes the power structure. Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) live in these massive, complex societies that actually look a lot more like baboon troops than anything you’d see from a lion or a wolf. We are talking about groups that can reach up to 90 individuals, all governed by a strict, female-dominated hierarchy that would make a medieval court look simple. It’s chaotic. It’s fascinating. And it’s definitely more than just a funny noise in the dark.
Why a Group of Hyenas Called a Clan is a Social Masterpiece
When you call them a clan, you're acknowledging one of the most sophisticated social structures in the animal kingdom. Unlike many other predators where the biggest, strongest male takes the lead, hyenas flipped the script. In a hyena clan, females are the bosses. Period. They are larger, more aggressive, and have significantly higher testosterone levels than the males.
It’s a matriarchy.
In these groups, rank is everything. A high-ranking female's cub is born into royalty, essentially inheriting its mother's status from day one. This isn't just about who gets to eat first, though that’s a big part of it. It’s about survival. Studies from the Mara Hyena Project have shown that the offspring of high-ranking females grow faster and have a much higher chance of surviving to adulthood. Why? Because they get the best access to the "kill," which is usually a zebra or wildebeest they’ve hunted down themselves (contrary to the myth that they are just scavengers).
Male hyenas have it rough. When a male reaches sexual maturity, he usually leaves his birth clan and tries to join a new one. He starts at the very bottom. He has to spend months, sometimes years, sucking up to the females just to be tolerated. It’s a grueling social climb where the "glass ceiling" is very real and made of tooth and bone.
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The Cackle Myth and the Reality of Hyena Communication
Let’s talk about that "cackle" for a second. While a group of hyenas called a cackle makes for a great crossword puzzle answer, the sound itself isn't about laughter. It’s stress.
When you hear that high-pitched, giggling sound, a hyena is usually being bullied or excluded from a meal. It’s a signal of submission or frustration. It is wild to think that we named the entire group after their sound of distress, but that's humans for you. We like things that sound poetic.
Hyenas actually have a massive vocabulary. They "whoop." The low, echoing whoop is their long-distance telegram. It’s how they find each other across the savanna at night. Each whoop is individual—other hyenas can tell exactly who is calling just by the pitch and cadence. They also use groans, squeals, and soft lowing sounds to communicate within the clan. If you spend enough time listening to them, you realize it’s not just noise; it’s a constant stream of data about status, location, and intent.
The Dynamics of the Hunt
People love to call hyenas "cowardly scavengers." That is fundamentally wrong. In places like the Serengeti, spotted hyenas actually kill between 60% and 95% of the food they eat. They are incredible endurance hunters.
A lion might be faster in a short burst, but a hyena clan will run a wildebeest into the ground over miles. They have massive hearts—literally, their heart-to-body-mass ratio is huge—which allows them to keep a steady pace while their prey eventually collapses from exhaustion. Once the prey is down, the "cackle" begins as the hierarchy takes over. The alpha female eats first. Then her cubs. Then the rest of the females. The males wait at the fringes, hoping for a scrap of bone.
Evolution and the "Pseudo-penis"
You can't talk about the structure of a hyena group without touching on the weirdest biological trait they have. Female spotted hyenas have highly masculinized genitalia, often referred to as a pseudo-penis. It’s actually an elongated clitoris through which they give birth. It is a biological anomaly that has baffled scientists for decades.
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This physical trait is tied directly to their social structure. The high levels of androgens (male hormones) that the females produce make them more aggressive. This aggression is necessary to maintain the clan structure and ensure their cubs are fed in the competitive environment of the African plains. It’s a tough way to live, but it works. They are one of the most successful large carnivores in Africa, outnumbering lions in almost every habitat they share.
Intelligence That Rivals Primates
Researchers like Sarah Benson-Amram have put hyenas through intelligence tests that would stump some monkeys. In one famous experiment, hyenas had to cooperate to pull two ropes simultaneously to release a food reward. They figured it out almost instantly. Even more impressive? They did it without any training.
They understand social complexity. They know who is friends with whom. They understand that if they mess with the daughter of the alpha female, the entire clan will come down on them. That kind of social maneuvering requires a lot of brainpower, which is why their frontal cortex is surprisingly large.
Different Types of Hyenas, Different Group Names
While the spotted hyena is the "celebrity" of the family, there are three other species, and their groups aren't always called clans in the same way.
- Brown Hyenas: These are the shaggy, ghost-like versions that live in the deserts of Namibia and Botswana. They live in smaller groups, often just a breeding pair and their offspring.
- Striped Hyenas: These guys are mostly solitary. You won’t see a "cackle" of striped hyenas. They are the true scavengers of the family, wandering long distances alone at night.
- Aardwolves: Technically part of the hyena family, but they eat termites. They are monogamous and live in pairs. No clans, no cackles, just a quiet life eating bugs.
It’s important to distinguish because when we talk about the "group of hyenas called a clan," we are almost always talking about the spotted variety. They are the ones with the complex politics and the loud voices.
What Humans Get Wrong About Hyena Behavior
The "The Lion King" effect is real. Disney did a number on the hyena's reputation, portraying them as bumbling, stupid henchmen. In reality, a hyena is probably smarter than a lion. They are certainly more adaptable.
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They aren't "evil." They are just efficient. Their ability to digest bone—thanks to incredibly strong stomach acid—means they leave nothing to waste. A clan can make an entire zebra disappear in less than 30 minutes. Nothing left but a bloodstain on the grass. That’s not villainy; that’s an essential ecological service. They clean up the savanna.
How to Observe Hyena Clans Safely
If you’re headed on safari, don't just look for the big cats. Seeing a clan in action is a much more interesting social experience.
- Find the Den: Most clans have a central communal den, usually an old aardvark hole. This is the heart of their social life. You’ll see cubs playing and females "babysitting" while others are out hunting.
- Go at Dusk: This is when the whooping starts. The transition from day to night is when the clan gathers and coordinates their movements.
- Watch the Ears: A hyena’s ears tell you everything. If they are pinned back, something is tense. If they are forward and alert, they’ve caught a scent or heard a rival.
- Look for the "Lame" One: Often, you'll see a hyena with a limp or a scar. Because they live in supportive clans, injured hyenas can actually survive for years because the group protects them and allows them to scavenge at the den.
The Actionable Reality of Hyena Conservation
Understanding that a group of hyenas called a clan is a complex society helps us protect them. They aren't just random pests; they are deeply connected individuals. When a matriarch is killed by a farmer or a snare, it can throw the entire clan into a multi-year power struggle that can lead to the death of many cubs.
Protecting hyenas means protecting their social structure.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
- Support the Mara Hyena Project: This is the gold standard for hyena research. Their long-term data helps mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
- Educate others on the "Scavenger" myth: When people realize hyenas are apex hunters, they tend to respect them more.
- Look for them in non-traditional spots: Everyone goes to the Serengeti, but the brown hyenas of the Skeleton Coast offer a completely different look at hyena social life.
The more we move away from calling them a "cackle" and start seeing them as a "clan," the closer we get to understanding the reality of these incredible animals. They aren't a joke, and they aren't just a sound. They are one of nature's most successful social experiments.