They may be spotted laughing (6)
I believe the answer is:
hyenas
'they' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hyenas that I've seen before include "Animal whose cry sounds like wild laughter" , "Carnivorous animals making sounds like wild laughter" , "Dog-like animals with laughter sounds" , "Nocturnal carnivouous mammals of Asia and Africa" , "Wild animals, their howl sounds like laughter" .)