# Aardwolf (*Proteles cristata*) The aardwolf is a small, shy mammal that looks like a mix of a hyena and a fox. It's mostly nocturnal, meaning it's active at night, and loves to eat termites. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Aardwolf](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Proteles_cristatus1.jpg&width=800) Photo: by Dkaeuferle = Dominik Käuferle, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Proteles_cristatus1.jpg) ## Appearance The Aardwolf has a distinctive shaggy mane running along its back, which it can raise to appear larger. Its yellowish-brown coat is marked with several vertical black stripes, making it look like a slender, striped hyena. They also possess large, pointed ears and a long, bushy tail. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Hyaenidae - **Genus:** Proteles ## Interesting facts - Aardwolves eat almost only termites, sometimes over 200,000 in one single night! - Despite their hyena-like appearance, Aardwolves are shy, gentle, and solitary creatures. - The name Aardwolf means 'earth wolf' in Afrikaans, referring to their burrowing habits. - They never destroy termite mounds, carefully licking them clean instead of digging them up. ## Special abilities - **Mane Magic:** Aardwolf has a tall mane on its back that helps them look bigger and scarier to predators when threatened. - **Scent Secret:** Aardwolf can mark its territory with a strong-smelling liquid from a gland, letting other animals know it's their space. - **Night Navigator:** Aardwolf has excellent night vision because of specialized eyes that help them forage for termites in the dark. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 80-100 cm - **Weight:** 7-10 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-15 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-5 - **Gestation:** 90-110 days ## Diet & Feeding Aardwolves are insectivores, mostly eating termites with their long, sticky tongues! - **Primary Foods:** Harvester Termites, Snouted Termites, Other insects, Insect larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Harvester Termite (*Hodotermes mossambicus*) — Primary food source, licked from the surface. - **Eats:** Snouted Harvester Termite (*Trinervitermes trinervoides*) — Another key termite species in their diet. - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — Lions are apex predators in the Aardwolf's habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Spotted Hyena](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-hyena) (*Crocuta crocuta*) — Hyenas opportunistically prey on smaller carnivores. ## 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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [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 If you ever see an aardwolf in the wild, admire it from a safe distance and never try to touch or chase it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Aardwolf? 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 Aardwolf? 80-100 cm ### How much does Aardwolf weigh? 7-10 kg ### How long does Aardwolf live? 8-15 years ### How fast can Aardwolf move? 40 km/h ### What does Aardwolf eat? Aardwolves are insectivores, mostly eating termites with their long, sticky tongues! ### Where is Aardwolf usually found? Grasslands ### How does Aardwolf hunt? Foraging ## 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: [Aardwolf: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/aardwolf)