Photo by Kay Holekamp

Hermaphrodites are individuals who have both male and female reproductive organs. For many years, even biologists thought that hyenas were hermaphrodites, and for good reason. Female hyenas have a pseudopenis which is the same size and shape as a male's penis. In addition, the labia of female hyenas have fused to form a pseudoscrotum. Although female hyenas look like males on the outside, their internal reproductive organs are just like those of any other female mammal. Hyenas mate, urinate, and give birth through their psuedopenises.