aardvark

Orycteropus afer

Aardvarks are unique animals with long ears and a snout like a pig! They love to eat ants and termites and are mostly active at night.

Hábitat: Savannas

Aspecto

The aardvark has a sturdy, pig-like body with sparse, yellowish-grey skin. It features long, rabbit-like ears, a distinctive pig-like snout, and powerful, shovel-like claws on its feet. Its thick, hairless tail is cone-shaped and muscular.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloChordataClaseMammaliaOrdenTubulidentataFamiliaOrycteropodidaeGéneroOrycteropus

aardvark

Categoría

Mamíferos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

2/5 · Bajo

Snaps

¡Sé la primera persona en hacer un snap!

Datos interesantes

Aardvarks are the only living species in their entire scientific order!

Many other animals like warthogs use abandoned aardvark burrows as homes.

The name 'aardvark' means 'earth pig' in the Afrikaans language.

Their thick skin protects them from painful ant and termite bites.

Habilidades especiales

The aardvark can dig incredibly fast because of its powerful claws that help them create burrows and find food.

The aardvark has an excellent sense of smell that helps them sniff out ants and termites deep underground.

The aardvark has a long, sticky tongue that helps them slurp up hundreds of insects in a flash.

The aardvark can close its nostrils because of special muscles that help them keep out dust and insects while digging.

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 150-220 cm
Peso: 40-65 kg
Esperanza de vida: 10-18 años
Top Speed: 40 km/h
Tamaño de la camada: 1-2
Gestación: 210-240 días

Dieta y alimentación

Aardvarks are insect-eating experts, gobbling up ants and termites with their long, sticky tongue!

Alimentos principales

termites
ants
aardvark cucumber

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

eats

Natal Snouted Termite

Macrotermes natalensis

Primary food source in many habitats.

eats

Driver Ant

Dorylus helvolus

Hunted for food when termites are scarce.

eaten by

Lion

Panthera leo

Aardvarks can be prey for large predators.

shelters

Common Warthog

Phacochoerus africanus

Uses abandoned aardvark burrows for shelter.

Rasgos

Peludo

Peludo describe a los animales que poseen una cubierta densa de pelo o pelaje suave.

Solitario

Los animales solitarios viven solos durante la mayor parte de su vida y solo interactúan con otros para aparearse o cuidar de sus crías.

Excavador

Los animales excavadores cavan túneles y cámaras en el suelo y utilizan estas estructuras subterráneas para refugiarse, cazar o reproducirse.

Insectívoro

Este rasgo identifica a los organismos cuya dieta consiste principalmente en insectos y otros pequeños invertebrados.

Sabana

Este rasgo de hábitat denota especies nativas de las sabanas, que son pastizales con árboles dispersos, típicamente encontrados en regiones tropicales o subtropicales con estaciones secas y húmedas marcadas.