In mammals, males are usually stronger and more competitive than females. Males also show greater inequality in reproductive success—the number of offspring they produce—than females. In spotted hyenas, the opposite is true: Reproductive inequality is greater among females than males. The reason? Female spotted hyenas pass on their social rank and the associated privileges, such as priority access to food, to their offspring, whereas males do not.

In mammals, males are usually stronger and more competitive than females. Males also show greater inequality in reproductive success—the number of offspring they produce—than females. In spotted hyenas, the opposite is true: Reproductive inequality is greater among females than males. The reason? Female spotted hyenas pass on their social rank and the associated privileges, such as priority access to food, to their offspring, whereas males do not.

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