Hyenas are highly social carnivores that organize themselves into cooperative groups called clans. Maintaining these social structures across vast territories relies heavily on vocal communication. This acoustic repertoire is often misunderstood by humans, who fixate on a single sound. Studying the full range of their vocalizations shows researchers a sophisticated language central to the animals’ survival and the maintenance of their strict social hierarchy.
The Iconic Sound: The Hyena Laugh
The famous, high-pitched vocalization called the hyena’s “laugh” is actually a staccato cackle or “giggle” produced by the Spotted Hyena. This sound signifies stress, frustration, or submission, often in highly competitive situations. Giggling is frequently heard when hyenas fight over a carcass or when a lower-ranking individual is chased away by a dominant clan member.
Acoustic analysis shows the giggle’s structure transmits information about the caller’s social standing. Dominant hyenas produce a steady series of giggles, while subordinates emit a more variable and erratic call. This variability reflects the subordinate’s distress or internal conflict, as they are simultaneously excited by food and fearful of competitors. The cackle’s pitch also indicates the caller’s age, as older animals have lower-pitched vocalizations.
The high-frequency giggle does not travel well over long distances, so it is used for close-quarters communication during direct confrontations. It serves as an immediate, honest signal of the animal’s emotional state and status to those nearby. The sound’s intensity and rapid repetition help defuse potential physical conflict by broadcasting the subordinate’s intention to submit or their high level of frustration.
The Primary Long-Range Communication: The Whoop
In contrast to the giggle, the whoop is the most significant long-distance vocalization. This low, resonant, and booming call can carry up to five kilometers, making it a critical tool for coordinating clan activity across wide areas. The whoop is a tonal, harmonic sound that modulates up and down in frequency, creating a distinctly musical quality.
The primary function of the whoop is to advertise an individual’s location and presence to clan members out of sight. A hyena may emit a series of whoops, known as a whoop bout, to locate allies, rally the group for a cooperative hunt, or defend against rival clans. New immigrant males often use whoop bouts extensively to announce their arrival and advertise their presence to a new, potentially hostile clan.
Close-Quarters Social Sounds: Grunts, Growls, and Giggles
Hyenas possess a rich vocabulary of softer, close-quarters sounds used for intimate social interactions beyond the two main calls. These non-long-distance signals facilitate communication at den sites or during greeting rituals between familiar clan mates. Low-frequency growls and groans often serve as warnings or expressions of aggression when an individual is guarding a resource or signaling displeasure.
Soft grunts are frequently used in non-aggressive contexts, such as between a mother and her cubs to signal safety or call them out of a den. Rapid giggles and squeals, distinct from the frantic cackle, signal excitement, greeting, or submission when approaching a higher-ranking individual. The presence of these varied subtle sounds demonstrates the necessity of fine-tuned communication within their complex and strict social hierarchy.
Decoding the Meaning of Hyena Calls
Scientists analyze the intricate acoustic features of hyena vocalizations to understand the depth of their communication. The pitch, frequency, duration, and modulation of the whoop and the giggle contain specific encoded messages. The fundamental frequency of a whoop provides reliable information about the caller’s age class and sex, acting as a unique voiceprint for each individual.
The acoustic structure allows other hyenas to instantly assess the identity and social rank of the emitter. Researchers confirmed that hyenas can distinguish between individuals based solely on the whoop vocalization, functioning as natural caller ID. This ability to identify a specific individual at a distance is important for clan members deciding whether to respond to a call for help, as they prioritize higher-ranked allies. This sophisticated system supports their highly cooperative, rank-based social life.