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Description
My piece for the February contest
Mwanamke shujaa
Scientific name: Tyrannomatrem
Height 4'10 at the shoulder
Length: 15 ft
Weight: males 248 lbs. females 796 lbs.
Habitat: savanna
Region: S. Africa
Ancestor: yellow mongoose
The mwanamke shujaa is a large mongoose native to Southern Africa. These predators hunt largely alone, however they live communally.
The social structure is hierarchical. Strangely for mammals the gender roles are reversed, with females being larger than and controlling male harems of 5 or 10. Dominant females will can have up to 20 or 30 males in their harems. Females also produce 4x the testosterone males do, do 80% of the hunting and fighting, and bully males to keep them in line (this behavior is even present in pups of 5 weeks of age, which is when their weaned). Even females of low rank can bully males of a higher female's harem because males have no rank in the hierarchy. Females are far more aggressive than males, often competing with each other for males.
Their are two methods females use to gain a harem: 1) is to compete with local females and assert their dominance. Females will males into their harems by clamping down on their necks until they begin yipping. They will also fight other females for control of their harems. 2) is they will go out on raids and take young males of all ages from neighboring communities.

Description
My piece for the February contest
Mwanamke shujaa
Scientific name: Tyrannomatrem
Height 4'10 at the shoulder
Length: 15 ft
Weight: males 248 lbs. females 796 lbs.
Habitat: savanna
Region: S. Africa
Ancestor: yellow mongoose
The mwanamke shujaa is a large mongoose native to Southern Africa. These predators hunt largely alone, however they live communally.
The social structure is hierarchical. Strangely for mammals the gender roles are reversed, with females being larger than and controlling male harems of 5 or 10. Dominant females will can have up to 20 or 30 males in their harems. Females also produce 4x the testosterone males do, do 80% of the hunting and fighting, and bully males to keep them in line (this behavior is even present in pups of 5 weeks of age, which is when their weaned). Even females of low rank can bully males of a higher female's harem because males have no rank in the hierarchy. Females are far more aggressive than males, often competing with each other for males.
Their are two methods females use to gain a harem: 1) is to compete with local females and assert their dominance. Females will males into their harems by clamping down on their necks until they begin yipping. They will also fight other females for control of their harems. 2) is they will go out on raids and take young males of all ages from neighboring communities.