Few stories in nature are as shocking as that of the spotted hyena, an animal whose birth is, literally, a biological nightmare.
The females of this species are not only larger and more dominant than the males, but they also possess a reproductive anatomy that is as unusual as it is dangerous. Instead of a traditional vagina, these hyenas have a “pseudopenis,” an elongated structure that resembles a penis but is actually an extremely enlarged clitoris.
And yes, that’s where they have to give birth. This passage is so narrow and long that it makes childbirth a deadly challenge. In fact, up to 60% of offspring born during their first birth die, often from suffocation or because they become trapped.
But it’s not just the offspring that are at risk: the mothers can also suffer serious tears during the process.
Another example of how nature sometimes takes its toll… but always leaves us speechless.
From the network