It is the dominant predator in Africa, accounting for perhaps half of all game killed by other animals. And this, despite its reputation as being an eater of carrion. The main enemy of the Spotted Hyena is the lion. Lions kill hyenas for no reason and simply leave the carcass to rot. In many areas, the primary food source for lions is not what they kill for themselves, but whatever game they are able to steal from Spotted Hyenas.
Spotted Hyenas have the most complex social structure of ANY non-primate species.
A Hyena clan is both matriarchal and hierarchical. A clan is living typification of the idea of 'survival of the fittest'. New born cubs will attack each other in the den and it is typical for only a single cub from each litter to survive. Like humans, Spotted Hyenas experience significant pain and difficulty in birthing resulting in not only a large number of infant deaths, but also in the deaths of delivering mothers. The dominant female is usually most successful in delivering and rearing young.