Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

The word "hyena" is derived from the Greek ''ὕαινα'', ("hyaina") which in itself is derived from the word ὗς ("hӯs"), "hog" or "sow", a possible reference to comparisons of its bristly back to pigs.  The Latin word ''hyaena'' inspired both the Old High German ''ijēna'' and Old English ''hyene'', from which we get todays word "hyena"<ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyena</ref>.

The word "hyena" is derived from the Greek ''ὕαινα'', ("hyaina") which in itself is derived from the word ὗς ("hӯs"), "hog" or "sow", a possible reference to comparisons of its bristly back to pigs.  The Latin word ''hyaena'' inspired both the Old High German ''ijēna'' and Old English ''hyene'', from which we get today's word "hyena".<ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyena</ref>

==Description==

==Description==

Reproduction in most cases is not seasonal, but can be done throughout the year. After a 90 to 110 day gestation period, the female gives birth to one to four young animals, sometimes five. The degree of development of the newborn is different: while in the case of spotted hyenas, the milkteeth are already present and the eyes are opened; striped and brown hyenas are less developed and their eyes still closed.  Newborn spotted hyenas are black in color; in the other species, the coloration of the young animals resembles that of the adult animals, but with an added dark streak on the back.

Reproduction in most cases is not seasonal, but can be done throughout the year. After a 90 to 110 day gestation period, the female gives birth to one to four young animals, sometimes five. The degree of development of the newborn is different: while in the case of spotted hyenas, the milkteeth are already present and the eyes are opened; striped and brown hyenas are less developed and their eyes still closed.  Newborn spotted hyenas are black in color; in the other species, the coloration of the young animals resembles that of the adult animals, but with an added dark streak on the back.

Newborn hyenas spend their first weeks of life in an earthen burrow. In the case of spotted and brown hyenas these borrows are communal in which the young animals of a clan grow together.  After a few weeks, the young animals begin to explore the area outside the burrow. After a few months they undertake their first foraging, for the first time in the company of an adult animal, and later on alone. Young hyenas are suckled for a relatively long time, the actual hyenas are finally weaned after 12-16 months. In the second or third year of life, sexual maturity occurs.

Newborn hyenas spend their first weeks of life in an earthen burrow. In the case of spotted and brown hyenas these borrows are communal in which the young animals of a clan grow together.  After a few weeks, the young animals begin to explore the area outside the burrow. After a few months they undertake their first foraging, for the first time in the company of an adult animal, and later on alone. Young hyenas are suckled for a relatively long time, the actual hyenas are finally weaned after 12–16 months. In the second or third year of life, sexual maturity occurs.

==Threats==

==Threats==

Man is considered the greatest threat to hyenas, for the following reasons: hyenas have on occasion attacked livestock and domestic pets; spotted hyenas have attacked and killed man, and both spotted and striped hyenas have scavenged human corpses from cemeteries.  Different body parts of hyenas have also been used in folk healing medicines.  A further threat comes from the automobile, as hyenas often eat the carcasses of roadkill animals as they lay directly on the road, and are careless of oncoming vehicles.

Man is considered the greatest threat to hyenas, for the following reasons: hyenas have on occasion attacked livestock and domestic pets; spotted hyenas have attacked and killed man, and both spotted and striped hyenas have scavenged human corpses from cemeteries.  Different body parts of hyenas have also been used in folk healing medicines.  A further threat comes from the automobile, as hyenas often eat the carcasses of roadkill animals as they lay directly on the road, and are careless of oncoming vehicles.

With the exception of the aardwolf, the population of hyenas has fallen back.  Estimates of the total population of the different types of hyenas range from 27,000-47,000 for spotted hyenas<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/5674/0</ref>, 5,000-8,000 for brown hyenas<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/10276/0</ref>, and 5,000-14,000 striped hyenas<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/10274/0</ref>, and at least several thousand aardwolfs<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/18372/0</ref>, which may benefit from an increase in the large-scale cattle economy, which in turn has caused an increase in its preferred termite population.  However, despite a lack of direct persecution, aardwolfs may be driven away from habitats as a result of farmers destroying termite mounds.

With the exception of the aardwolf, the population of hyenas has fallen back.  Estimates of the total population of the different types of hyenas range from 27,000-47,000 for spotted hyenas,<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/5674/0</ref> 5,000-8,000 for brown hyenas,<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/10276/0</ref> and 5,000-14,000 striped hyenas,<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/10274/0</ref> and at least several thousand aardwolfs,<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/18372/0</ref> which may benefit from an increase in the large-scale cattle economy, which in turn has caused an increase in its preferred termite population.  However, despite a lack of direct persecution, aardwolfs may be driven away from habitats as a result of farmers destroying termite mounds.

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Mammals]][[Category:Carnivores]]

[[Category:Mammals]][[Category:Carnivores]]