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University of Pennsylvania) Hyenas inherit their social networks from their mothers, according to research led by biologists Erol Akçay of the School of Arts & Sciences and Amiyaal Ilany of Bar-Ilan University, in collaboration with Kay Holekamp of Michigan State University. The study found this network inheritance effect strongest for offspring of higher-ranking mothers. The finding has implications for how social groups are structured and evolve, the researchers say.
