Although the genitalia of the male hyena is typical by mammalian standards, that of the female closely resembles that of the male; the clitoris is shaped and positioned like a penis, and is capable of erection. The female also possesses no external vagina, as the labia are fused to form a pseudo-scrotum. The pseudo-penis is traversed to its tip by a central urogenital canal, through which the female urinates, copulates and gives birth. This unusual trait makes mating more laborious for the male than in other mammals, while also ensuring that rape is physically impossible. The pseudo-penis can be distinguished from the males' genitalia by its greater thickness and more rounded glans. Hyena clans are more compact and unified than wolf packs, but are not as closely knit as those of African wild dogs. Females dominate males, with even the lowest ranking females being dominant over the highest ranking males.
