In most animal species males are the dominant and more aggressive of the sexes, and “forced copulation” with females is not uncommon. In some duck and goose species, for instance, it’s practically the norm. As males in some species have become more aggressive over time, females have in turn developed ways to prevent unwanted sex. Female spiders, for example, are much larger than their male counterparts and are difficult to coerce.
In no species is the prevention of forced copulation more impressive than in hyenas. Female hyenas enjoy exceptionally high levels of testosterone, a historically “male” hormone. As a result females are larger and more aggressive than males, and sport large clitorises-so large that they look almost exactly like penises. The gigantic clitoris makes it almost impossible for a male to force copulation. Not that a male hyena would be likely to try, mind you-females are the dominant sex in this carnivore and sit at the top of the group hierarchy.
There is a downside to having such a formidable clitoris, however: unlike humans, the hyena vagina is inside the clitoris, and young females often die giving birth.
