Hyena (glow = call phase)
Call ring (signal sent)
Territory boundary
This 2D companion models the acoustic side of the 3D clan scene as coupled phase oscillators: each hyena whoops on its own internal rhythm, but calls from clan members within earshot pull that rhythm toward theirs. Push call volume up and noise down and the clan's whoops lock into a synchronized chorus; do the opposite and the calls stay scattered and uncoordinated — the same Kuramoto model used to explain synchronized firefly flashing.