In some monarchies, inherited power offers a ladder that can be ascended to absolute authority—be it through diplomacy, ruthlessness, or the passing of time. But in hyena monarchies, inherited power is a slippery downward slide. A study from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior examined hyena societies over three decades. They found that the process by which hyenas inherit rank from their mothers—known as maternal inheritance—corrodes the social status of individuals.
