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.

Habitat: Savannas

Appearance

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.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderTubulidentataFamilyOrycteropodidaeGenusOrycteropus

aardvark

Interesting facts

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.

Special abilities

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.

Measurements & details

Length: 150-220 cm
Weight: 40-65 kg
Lifespan: 10-18 years
Top Speed: 40 km/h
Litter Size: 1-2
Gestation: 210-240 days

Diet & Feeding

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

Primary Foods

termites
ants
aardvark cucumber

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

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.

Traits

Furry

Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Burrowing

Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Savanna

This habitat trait denotes species native to savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons.