Hyena Social Networks
The principle of triadic closure is well known and accepted for human social networks, but research suggests that it also applies to Hyenas too. According to a 20-year study run by the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found strong evidence that spotted hyenas formed large packs through triadic closure. What was interesting about their research was that they were able to track the groups over a long period of time and understand the factors that caused them to change.
The first difference they found was the effect that gender had on the triads. Since hyenas are a matriarchal society, females are considered dominant and have the social freedom to change their groups over time, while the males with less freedom have to strictly follow the clan’s rules. Often part of these rules is the creation of triadic bonds. Additionally, the researchers noted that the female’s decisions were affected by environmental factors such as the amount of rain. Overall the extension of the triadic closure principle as a multi species rule is great evidence for its validity applied to all kinds of social networks.
https://news.upenn.edu/news/making-friends-friends-benefits-hyenas-penn-biologist-finds