Adaptable, resourceful, and highly opportunistic, the Spotted Hyaena, Crocuta crocuta, ranges over most of subsaharan Africa except in the rain forests. In some areas the hyaena is a solo hunter/forager; in ecosystems such as the Mara with large numbers of ungulates, hyaenas hunt in groups and show superb skills as prime predators. A large clan egged on by an aggressive matriarch will even drive lions off a kill. Hyaena clans are led by matriarchs, in a society in which females are dominant. This young female eyes the camera and photographer with cheeky inquisitiveness.