# 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. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Savannas ![aardvark](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Porc_formiguer.JPG&width=800) Photo: MontageMan is the author of the original image, I did the crop, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Porc_formiguer.JPG) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Tubulidentata - **Family:** Orycteropodidae - **Genus:** Orycteropus ## 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 - **Super Digger:** The aardvark can dig incredibly fast because of its powerful claws that help them create burrows and find food. - **Snout Detective:** The aardvark has an excellent sense of smell that helps them sniff out ants and termites deep underground. - **Sticky Tongue Trap:** The aardvark has a long, sticky tongue that helps them slurp up hundreds of insects in a flash. - **Nose Stopper:** 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 - **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. - **Shelter:** [Common Warthog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-warthog) (*Phacochoerus africanus*) — Uses abandoned aardvark burrows for shelter. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Savanna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Aardvarks are shy and prefer to be left alone. It's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify aardvark? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is aardvark? 150-220 cm ### How much does aardvark weigh? 40-65 kg ### How long does aardvark live? 10-18 years ### How fast can aardvark move? 40 km/h ### What does aardvark eat? Aardvarks are insect-eating experts, gobbling up ants and termites with their long, sticky tongue! ### Where is aardvark usually found? Savannas ### How does aardvark hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/omahas-henry-doorly-zoo-and-aquarium) — Nebraska, US · Aquarium - [Rolling Hills Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rolling-hills-zoo) — Kansas, US · Zoo - [Zoo Berlin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-berlin) — Berlin, DE · Zoo - [Bergzoo Halle (Zoologischer Garten Halle)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bergzoo-halle) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Zoo Frankfurt](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-frankfurt) — Hessen, DE · Zoo [View all places to see aardvark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/aardvark) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Aardvark: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/aardvark)