Name some of the most ferocious 'queens' in the animal world

Killer whales, bonobos, African savannah elephants and leaf-cutter ants have one thing in common - they all rely on their offspring to survive and thrive.

We all hear that the lion is the king of beasts, so who is the queen?

Female spotted hyenas are among nature's fiercest queens. Not only are they larger and more aggressive than other males, they also lead prides of six to 90 members, and care for their young longer than any other carnivore in Africa.

Not just hyenas, the animal kingdom has many populations with alpha females.

From some of the largest animals on land to some of the strongest in the sea—even to some of the world's smallest insects—many species survive and thrive thanks to strong females who teach them survival skills, resolve conflicts, and even sacrifice their lives for the group.

Leaf cutter ant

A queen leafcutter ant can live up to 20 years. (Source: National Geographic).

Leafcutter ant colonies contain up to 8 million individuals, all 'ruled' by a single queen. The queen rules over her workers in complex underground chambers up to 50 feet wide and 16 feet deep.

A queen leafcutter ant can live up to 20 years, during which time she gives birth to up to 200 million offspring and leaves the task of caring for and raising them to the rest of the colony.

Bonobos

Humans' closest relatives, bonobo 'society' is led by females who form strong friendships and are largely peaceful. They spend most of their time 'grooming, eating and socialising'.

However, when a male 'harasses' a female and threatens their harmonious community, a group of female bonobos may band together and attack the 'offender'.

Killer whale

In a pod of killer whales, the grandmother is the most 'knowledgeable' ; her presence increases the chances of her calves surviving. Evolutionary ecologist Dan Franks said the grandmother's death would have 'a huge impact on the whole family'.

In fact, research has shown that in the two years after a female killer whale dies, the risk of death for her calf increases significantly.

Female killer whales also live well beyond their reproductive years, making them one of the few animals known to go through menopause. Although female killer whales stop reproducing around the age of 40, they can live up to 90 years, while males live for around 50 years.

African savanna elephant

In African savanna elephants, the oldest and largest female elephants lead their families and pass on 'wisdom' to younger females. (Source: National Geographic).

Among African savannah elephants, the oldest and largest females are the 'top' individuals of the herd.

Many elephants spend their entire lives with their mothers and grandmothers. But these mothers are not 'authoritarian'. Family members also 'offer suggestions and discuss plans of action'.

The 'young' females learn leadership skills by 'caring for' the baby elephants, responding to their 'anxiety' calls and helping the newborns learn to stand, walk and swim.