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What is an aardvark?
The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a stocky, nocturnal mammal native to Africa, south of the Sahara Desert, dwelling in savannas and semiarid regions. The name aardvark is Afrikaans for "earth pig," describing its pig-like face and burrowing behavior.
Aardvarks can weigh up to 65 kg and measure about 2.2 meters in length, including their heavy, 70 cm tail. They have a narrow face featuring an elongated snout, small eyes, and large ears that can grow up to 24 cm long. Their sparse coat is yellowish-gray, with whitish coloring on the face and tail tip. The front feet have four toes, while the hind feet have five, all equipped with strong, flattened nail-like hooves.
Aardvarks are the only living member of the order Tubulidentata, characterized by their unique "tube teeth." Though they resemble anteaters, they are related to elephants, hyraxes, and dugongs.
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Where do aardvarks live?
The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a stocky mammal native to Africa, residing south of the Sahara Desert in savannas and semiarid environments. The name aardvark, which means "earth pig" in Afrikaans, alludes to its pig-like face and burrowing behavior.
Aardvarks are nocturnal animals that create branching burrows, typically 2–3 meters long, but sometimes extending up to 13 meters. They frequently abandon old burrows and dig new ones, providing shelter for other species. The aardvark's diet consists almost entirely of ants and termites, which they lap up with their sticky tongues.
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What do aardvarks eat?
The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a stocky African mammal that lives south of the Sahara Desert in savanna and semiarid areas. The name aardvark is Afrikaans for "earth pig," which refers to their pig-like face and burrowing habits.
Aardvarks are nocturnal animals whose diet consists almost entirely of ants and termites. They travel 6 to 19 miles at night, pausing to sniff and press their snouts against the soil. They use their strong claws to rapidly open termite mounds and can squeeze their nostrils shut to keep out flying dust. Their sticky tongue, which extends to nearly 12 inches, is then used to lap up insects.
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How does an aardvark find its food?
The aardvark, a stocky African mammal, relies on a unique set of adaptations to find its primary food sources: ants and termites.
At night, the aardvark travels considerable distances, typically 10–30 km, along familiar zigzag paths, frequently pausing to sniff and press its snout against the soil. Fleshy sensory organs on the nasal septum likely help it detect tiny underground movements.
When an aardvark locates a termite mound, it uses its strong claws to rapidly open it, and it can squeeze its nostrils shut to keep out dust. Its sticky tongue, which can extend up to 30 cm, is then used to lap up the insects.
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What are some unique features of an aardvark's body?
The aardvark, an African mammal, has several unique features. Its name, Afrikaans for "earth pig," describes its pig-like face and burrowing behavior. Aardvarks have a narrow face with an elongated snout, small eyes, and long ears (up to 9.5 inches). Their scant coat is yellowish-gray, with a whitish face and tail tip.
Their front feet have four toes (five on the hind feet) with strong, flattened, nail-like "hooves". Aardvarks eat only ants and termites, using fleshy sensory organs to find underground movements. They can rapidly open termite mounds with their strong claws, and they can close their nostrils to keep out dust. Their sticky tongue can extend to 12 inches to lap up insects.
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How does an aardvark use its burrow in the wild?
The aardvark uses its burrow for shelter and protection in the wild. Aardvarks dig branching burrows that can be up to 13 meters long, with several sleeping chambers. They frequently abandon old burrows and dig new ones. If threatened away from its burrow, an aardvark can dig itself out of sight within five minutes. If a predator tries to dig it out, the aardvark will move soil to block the tunnel behind itself. Aardvarks' abandoned burrows are also used by other species, such as the African wild dog.
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aardvark, (Orycteropus afer), stocky African mammal found south of the Sahara Desert in savanna and semiarid areas. The name aardvark—Afrikaans for “earth pig”—refers to its piglike face and burrowing habits. The aardvark weighs up to 65 kg (145 pounds) and measures up to 2.2 metres (7.2 feet) long, including the heavy, 70-cm (28-inch) tail. The face is narrow with an elongated snout, very reduced eyes, and ears up to 24 cm (9.5 inches) long. The aardvark’s coat is scant and yellowish gray; the face and tail tip may be whitish. The four toes on the front foot (five on the hind feet) are equipped with strong, flattened nail-like “hooves” resembling spades.
The aardvark excavates branching burrows, usually 2–3 metres long but sometimes up to 13 metres, with several sleeping chambers. It abandons old burrows and digs new ones frequently, which thereby provides dens used by other species such as the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus). The aardvark’s diet consists almost entirely of ants and termites. At night it travels 10–30 km (6–19 miles), ambling along familiar paths in a zigzag fashion, pausing frequently to sniff and press its snout against the soil. Fleshy sensory organs on the nasal septum probably detect tiny underground movements. With its strong claws the aardvark can rapidly open a cement-hard termite mound. The nostrils are squeezed shut to keep out flying dust. The sticky tongue, extending to 30 cm (nearly 12 inches) from the small mouth, is then used to lap up the insects. A thick hide protects the aardvark from insect bites and stings. If threatened while away from a sheltering burrow, an aardvark can dig its way out of sight in five minutes. An acute sense of hearing protects it from being surprised by predators, which include pythons, lions, leopards, and hyenas. If a predator tries to dig it out of its burrow, the aardvark rapidly moves soil to block the tunnel behind itself. When attacked it slashes with its formidable front claws.
The sexes associate only during breeding periods. After a gestation of seven months, one young weighing about 2 kg is born during the rainy season. At birth the claws are already well developed. The young stays in the den for two weeks, then follows its mother. By 14 weeks it eats termites, and by 16 weeks it is weaned. It can dig its own burrow by six months of age and will leave its mother before it is one year old. Sexual maturity is attained at two years. Longevity is at least 24 years in zoos. Aardvarks indirectly benefit humans in areas where termites would otherwise damage crops. Owing mainly to their nocturnal habits, little is known about aardvark population status, but they are not endangered.
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The aardvark is the only species in the family Orycteropodidae and the only living member of order Tubulidentata (“tube teeth”). The ordinal name refers to the tiny columnlike tubules of dentine that are fused together to constitute each molar; adults lack canine teeth and incisors. Although aardvarks look like anteaters, they are actually related to elephants (order Proboscidea), hyraxes (order Hyracoidea), and dugongs and manatees (order Sirenia); all belong to a group of primitive ungulates called uranotherians. The split between this ancestral African stock and that leading to the ungulate, carnivore, xenarthran, and cetacean orders occurred as much as 90 million years ago. Fossils indicate that Tubulidentata was recognizable about 54 million years ago.