Has at least 11 different, intergrading calls, ranging from groans, grunts, growls and squeals to lowing and whooping. Africa south of the Sahara except rain forests and true desert, up to 13,000 feet. More carnivorous than other hyenas. Most hunting and foraging is done at night and alone, but clan members sometimes set off in packs to hunt specific quarry, such as zebra. Lives in large clans and defends territory if high density.
Territory is marked with scent from anal glands and dung.
A hyena clan is a stable community of related females, among which unrelated males reside for varying periods. Within the clan there is a separate dominance hierarchy for each sex. The highest-ranking females and her descendants are dominant over all other animals. Although all resident males have been observed to court females, only the highest ranking male usually mates. The one that wins keeps the other from nursing until it weakens and dies.