Powering down

Shortly after birth, a young hynea ( centre ) inherits its rank in the social heirarchy from its mother ( right ). Kate Yoshida - 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. According to the study, every member of a hyena clan, except the highest-ranking queen, suffers downward mobility across their lifetime. "It paints a pretty bleak picture of hyena societies," says Eli Strauss, a scientist at Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and sole author on the paper.