Females in charge..

..in the world of the spotted hyena. They live in sub-Saharan Africa and do the majority of the hunting, dictate the social structure, and raise cubs as single mothers. Even the highest-ranking male in the group is subservient to the most junior female. Perhaps because of female superiority, male spotted hyenas are comparatively diminutive, weighing about 12 percent less than females.

Spotted hyenas are quite interesting. They are fiercely loyal to their packs, cooperating in everything from child care to distributing shares of food. They hunt at least 50 percent of their meals and have no tolerance for waste, consuming even the hooves, bones, and teeth of prey.