[16], Genetically speaking, the aardvark is a living fossil, as its chromosomes are highly conserved, reflecting much of the early eutherian arrangement before the divergence of the major modern taxa. In the case it cannot find mounds and ant-hills, aardvark will search and eat wild melons and insects with soft bodies. Aardvarks are nocturnal; Sometimes aardvarks are called antbears; In Afrikaans, aardvark means Earth Pig; An aardvark can eat 50,000 termites in one sitting! including hyenas and leopards. They have also been known to eat underground fruits, probably as a source of water. They move from one termite mound to another, dismantling the hills with their powerful claws. Top 5 Predators of Aardvarks that Eat Aardvark - FactsKing.com As they are vacated, then they are inhabited by smaller animals like the African wild dog, ant-eating chat, Nycteris thebaica and warthogs. ribbon-like tongue and its coat of sticky saliva is then inserted into Family Life. Whereas the aardvark is considered digitigrade, it appears at time to be plantigrade. They zig-zag as they forage and will usually not repeat a route for 5–8 days as they appear to allow time for the termite nests to recover before feeding on it again. the tunnels of the nests. Their meat is tasty and very popular for human food with several Aardvarks are nocturnal, which means that they feed mostly at night. There may be a slight decrease in numbers in eastern, northern, and western Africa. [6] The aardvark changes the layout of its home burrow regularly, and periodically moves on and makes a new one. An adult aardvark weighs an average of 150lbs and can reach a height of 24 inches. The charm is said to be used by burglars and those seeking to visit young girls without their parents' permission. It is specialized for eating different types of termites and ants. [29] An aardvark emerges from its burrow in the late afternoon or shortly after sunset, and forages over a considerable home range encompassing 10 to 30 kilometres (6.2 to 18.6 mi). and are lightweight, [30] When it is threatened it will make for one of its burrows. The first zoo to have one was London Zoo in 1869, which had an animal from South Africa. [29] It makes a bleating sound if frightened. The aardvark (/ˈɑːrdvɑːrk/ ARD-vark; Orycteropus afer) is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. Aardvarks are good swimmers. Aardvarks also dig to get food. They eat those for the water. [6] If attacked in the tunnel, it will escape by digging out of the tunnel thereby placing the fresh fill between it and its predator, or if it decides to fight it will roll onto its back, and attack with its claws. They nearly always eat ants and termites. Clue: Aardvark's diet. [22], The aardvark's stomach has a muscular pyloric area that acts as a gizzard to grind swallowed food up, thereby rendering chewing unnecessary. Aardvarks eat termites and ants, and will use their strong claws to dig into a termite mound and their long, sticky tongues to catch and eat them. The only fruit an aardvark eats is actually named after it: the aardvark cucumber. “Here are all the things you wanted to eat this week, Biggs,” we will say to Biggs. Aardvarks like to live by themselves in their own burrows, and socialise when they are out foraging for food. Aardvarks use their long, sticky tongue to lap up to 50,000 insects a night from inside termite mounds or underground ant nests. [22] A contributing characteristic to the burrow digging capabilities of aardvarks is an endosteal tissue called compacted coarse cancellous bone (CCCB). However, a number of subtle anatomical differences coupled with recent molecular evidence now lead researchers to believe that Plesiorycteropus is a relative of golden moles and tenrecs that achieved an aardvark-like appearance and ecological niche through convergent evolution. The aardvark has a long, thin, snakelike, protruding tongue (as much as 30 centimetres (12 in) long)[6] and elaborate structures supporting a keen sense of smell. [1] There are no definitive counts because of their nocturnal and secretive habits; however, their numbers seem to be stable overall. Haussmann, S. N., Louw, A. M., Lewis, S., Nicol, J.H. [16] Its keen hearing warns it of predators: lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs, hyenas, and pythons. [6][25] Some humans also hunt aardvarks for meat. Aardvarks dig burrows up to 13 cm long and have numerous little tunnels branching off the main one. It roams over most of the southern two-thirds of the African continent, avoiding areas that are mainly rocky. Can be found in Africa, south of the Sahara. Aardvark's diet is a crossword puzzle clue. [7][8][9] The name Orycteropus means burrowing foot, and the name afer refers to Africa. They do this to pick up the scent of ants and termites. Aardvarks provide homes for animals like wild dogs and warthogs. Aardvarks are mammals; Aardvarks can have tongues up to a foot long! The only fruit they eat is a type of underground cucumber, known as the aardvark cucumber. [25] It is able to leave the burrow to accompany its mother after only two weeks and eats termites at 9 weeks,[25] and is weaned between three months[16] and 16 weeks. They travel long distances [22] The tip of the snout is highly mobile and is moved by modified mimetic muscles. The aardvark is a feisty animal totem, and can be related to one who is thick skinned. cautious upon leaving its burrow. digging for their own food when they are about six months old. They are not considered common anywhere in Africa, but due to their large range, they maintain sufficient numbers. Yes, they eat fire ants. Their main habitat requirement is a good supply of ant and termites. During adverse weather or if disturbed they will retreat to their burrow systems. The aardvarks long ears make for excellent hearing in the dark, however, they have poor eyesight. The aardvark and the aardvark cucumber have a symbiotic relationship, which means both creatures benefit from the interaction. Because it has very poor eyesight, the aardvark is [14] Along with the sirenians, hyraxes, elephants,[15] and their extinct relatives, these animals form the superorder Afrotheria. [11] The aardvark is born with conventional incisors and canines at the front of the jaw, which fall out and are not replaced. Aardvarks sw… Aardvarks forage for food only at night and mostly find their food underground. A single aardvark can eat 50,000 ants or termites in a single night! They will als… But Weyer found that during a … While cheetahs do prefer to eat animals like wildebeests, guineafowl, grey duikers, impalas, kudus or gazelles, they have also been known to chow down on aardvarks if the timing is right. Aardvarks can eat up to 60 thousand termites a day! often remain with the mother until the next mating season. If you are lucky enough to see them feed on their favourite diet, you will also notice the long, thin tongue. Aardvarks are afrotheres, a clade which also includes elephants, manatees, and hyraxes. medicines like the teeth, which are believed to prevent illness. Some humans also hunt aardvarks for meat. Relevance. This new one will be short and require the aardvark to back out when the coast is clear.[30]. The aardvark gets moisture from the cucumber, and the cucumber seeds are fertilized and spread. They mainly prefer termites however. The time spent in the intestine of the aardvark helps the fertility of the seed, and the fruit provides needed moisture for the aardvark. They will forage in a seemingly random manner zigzagging across the veld and smelling out columns … [13] The snout resembles an elongated pig snout. [25], In African folklore, the aardvark is much admired because of its diligent quest for food and its fearless response to soldier ants. The aardvark is insectivorous, feeding almost exclusively on insects, but supplementing with the unusual aardvark cucumber, a curious subterranean fruit. [20], The aardvark has seventeen poorly defined subspecies listed:[4], The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica also mentions O. a. capensis or Cape ant-bear from South Africa. [30], During a foraging period, they will stop and dig a "V" shaped trench with their forefeet and then sniff it profusely as a means to explore their location. [28] The only major habitat that they are not present in is swamp forest, as the high water table precludes digging to a sufficient depth. The aardvark’s name comes from the Afrikaans/Dutch language and means "earth pig," according to National Geographic.Though they do eat … They are widely distributed Aardvarks can dig fast or run in zigzag fashion to elude enemies, but if all else fails, they will strike with their claws, tail and shoulders, sometimes flipping onto their backs lying motionless except to lash out with all four feet. If one is not close it will dig a new one rapidly. If you are interested, visit the Animal Facts Page! Aardvarks live for up to 23 years in captivity. weeks after birth. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Additional material of the enigmatic Early Miocene mammal, "A new estimate of afrotherian phylogeny based on simultaneous analysis of genomic, morphological, and fossil evidence", "Cute as a Button but a Pain in my Butt: The Aardvark", IUCN/SSC Afrotheria Specialist Group - Aardvark website, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aardvark&oldid=996247342, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2015, Articles needing additional references from September 2020, All articles needing additional references, Wikipedia articles incorporating citation to the NSRW, Wikipedia articles incorporating citation to the NSRW with an wstitle parameter, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from Collier's Encyclopedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 25 December 2020, at 12:02. danger threatens. Aardvarks are digitigrades, meaning they walk on their toes, and not on the soles of their feet. The greatly elongated head is set on a short, thick neck, and the end of the snout bears a disc, which houses the nostrils. Aaardvarks burrows for shelter, food, protection and raising their offspring. Each toe bears a large, robust nail which is somewhat flattened and shovel-like, and appears to be intermediate between a claw and a hoof. Aardvarks use their long, sticky tongue to lap up to 50,000 insects a night from inside termite mounds or underground ant nests. Aardvarks eat at night and mostly eat ants and termites. They have a thin coat of hair, but a thick coat of skin that protects them from bites, and stings, so fire ants wouldn't harm them. What do Aardvarks Eat? Bad News if You’re an Ant . Seventy percent of an aardvark's diet is ants. An aardvark's weight is typically between 60 and 80 kilograms (130–180 lb). Their stomach muscles chew the food, which turns it into a digestible form.

Aardvarks look like a mixture between a very large armadillo without any armor, and a pig. These exceptions include the coastal areas of Namibia, Ivory Coast, and Ghana. They feast upon insects by They eat almost exclusively ants and termites, though they sometimes supplement their diets with other insects like the pupae of scarab beetles. PeerJ, 6, 1-40. [30] Only mothers and young share burrows; however, the aardvark is known to live in small family groups or as a solitary creature. continually. =] The limbs are of moderate length, with the rear legs being longer than the forelegs. Answer:Aardvarks also dig to get food. Aadvarks Are the Sole Species of Their Mammalian Order. An adult aardvark weighs an average of 150lbs and can reach a height of 24 inches. Aardvark holes provide shelter for at least 17 mammal species. Aardvarks are nocturnal; Sometimes aardvarks are called antbears; In Afrikaans, aardvark means Earth Pig; An aardvark can eat 50,000 termites in one sitting! In some areas, mating occurs between April and May, with offspring born in October or November. They eat almost exclusively ants and termi… This is also the place where females will give birth. only emerge from their burrow late at night. They are capable of causing substantial damage to unprotected areas of an attacker. It is sparsely covered with pale yellowish-gray coarse hairs. Ants are more plentiful during the wet season, whilst termites are more common in the dry season. When leaving the burrow at night, they pause at the entrance for about ten minutes, sniffing and listening. The cucumber is the only non-insect food that the aardvark eats. While foraging for food, the aardvark will keep its nose to the ground and its ears pointed forward, which indicates that both smell and hearing are involved in the search for food. Ecosystem engineering through aardvark (Orycteropus afer) burrowing: Mechanisms and effects. [1] They also avoid terrain rocky enough to cause problems with digging. [30] Other animals that use them are hares, mongooses, hyenas, owls, pythons, and lizards. They are not found in Madagascar. Aardvark has a thick and rough skin, protecting this animal from bites of angry ants and termites, which it feeds upon. Aardvarks use their sense of smell and hearing to help locate the insects. The aardvark is nocturnal and is a solitary creature that feeds almost exclusively on ants and termites which it will dig out of their hills using its sharp claws and powerful legs. [22] The head of the aardvark contains many unique and different features. enormous capacity for digging. When these insects move, they can form columns 10–40 metres (33–131 ft) long and these tend to provide easy pickings with little effort exerted by the aardvark. The squadron mascot was adapted from the animal in the comic strip B.C., which the F-4 was said to resemble. If you do spot an antbear in the  bush you will notice how it swing its long nose They are also used by herbivores up to Add a photo to this gallery. Digging the compromise: investigating the link They start DIET Aardvarks are insectivores that eat ants and termites. The long, cylindrical, This confusion happens because when it squats it stands on its soles. Hausa magicians make a charm from the heart, skin, forehead, and nails of the aardvark, which they then proceed to pound together with the root of a certain tree. They cover between 2 and 5 kilometres (1.2 and 3.1 mi) per night; however, some studies have shown that they may traverse as far as 30 kilometres (19 mi) in a night. Antbears uses that elongated snout for a keen sense of smell to detect what do aardvarks eat? They will also eat Cucumis humifructus, also known as the aardvark cucumber. Aardvarks are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The name comes from South Africa's Afrikaans language and means “earth pig.”. The 15 or so extant species of aardvarks … They can eat 50,000 to 60,000 ants and termites in one night. The rear limbs have five toes while the front ones have four toes. [5] The hair on the majority of its body is grouped in clusters of 3-4 hairs. acute. Aardvark's diet is a crossword puzzle clue that we have spotted 12 times. [21], The aardvark is vaguely pig-like in appearance. Relevance. [6] The nasal area of the aardvark is another unique area, as it contains ten nasal conchae, more than any other placental mammal. What do aardvarks eat? Its tail is very thick at the base and gradually tapers. The name aardvark—Afrikaans for ‘earth pig’—refers to its piglike face and burrowing habits. Return to Homepage . In this picture of an aardvark by Louise Joubert the first thing you will notice is the long snout with the nose that looks similar to that of a pig. [2][3] It is the only living species of the order Tubulidentata,[4][5] although other prehistoric species and genera of Tubulidentata are known. Adult aardvarks have only cheek teeth at the back of the jaw, and have a dental formula of: 0.0.2-3.30.0.2.3 These remaining teeth are peg-like and rootless and are of unique composition. Main burrows which are used as permanent Copyright 2010-2020 africa-wildlife-detective.com, can eat up to 60 000 ants and termites in one night. In captivity, aardvarks have a lifespan of 23 years. you can see I'm bored. They have also been known to eat underground fruits, probably as a source of water. The large majority of their diet is made up of ants and termites. However, if food supplies become scarce, aardvarks will sometimes eat fruit, such as the aardvark cucumber, and soft-bodied insects to supplement their diets. Aardvark usually closes its nostrils while eating, so that termites and ants cannot enter its nose. Unlike most other insectivores, it has a long pig-like snout, which is used to sniff out food. What do Aardvarks Eat? They require sandy soil, as opposed to rocks, so that they can dig Aaardvarks burrows for shelter, food, protection and raising their offspring. [16], Aardvarks were thought to have declining numbers,[6] however, this is possibly because they are not readily seen. They use their large claws to dig into ant hills and termite mounds and then stick their long, sticky, extensile tongue into the nest or mound to get the insects. Aardvarks can squeal like pigs [5] Temporary sites are scattered around the home range and are used as refuges, while the main burrow is also used for breeding. It also had similarities with its nocturnal missions flown at a very low level employing ordnance that could penetrate deep into the ground. They have bad eyesight, but have excellent senses of smell and hearing, which they use to help find termite nests. Southern African numbers are not decreasing. Aardvark Reproduction. They can eat up to 50,000 insects each night, according to the Wildscreen Arkive. [32], Aardvarks pair only during the breeding season; after a gestation period of seven months,[5] one cub weighing around 1.7–1.9 kilograms (3.7–4.2 lb)[16] is born during May–July. seems to remember the location of these burrows and returns to them if It is a nocturnal animal which means it only shows itself in public during night-time. It contains a thin but complete zygomatic arch. When an aardvark finds any ant or termite nest, it digs open the tunnels of these nests. The aardvarks rear limbs are longer than the front limbs and it has a prominently arched back. Aardvarks dig burrows up to 13 cm long and have numerous little tunnels branching off the main one. Once they locate their food source, aardvarks and anteaters can use their strong front claws to rip into the mound and start lapping up the tasty ants or termites. They It is true that aardvarks do eat ants. Rock ON! Aardvarks eat termites and ants, and will use their strong claws to dig into a termite mound and their long, sticky tongues to catch and eat them. After this period of watchfulness, it will bound out and within seconds it will be 10 metres (33 ft) away. In the US Navy, the squadron VF-114 was nicknamed the Aardvarks, flying F-4s and then F-14s. The only fruit they eat is a type of underground cucumber, known as the aardvark cucumber. Wrapped in a piece of skin and worn on the chest, the charm is said to give the owner the ability to pass through walls or roofs at night. [5] Its salivary glands are highly developed and almost completely ring the neck;[16] their output is what causes the tongue to maintain its tackiness. The time it stands on its soles is when an aardvark squats. The In some areas, mating occurs between April and May, with offspring born in October or November. The mating season of the aardvark varies. It avoids inhaling the dust by sealing the nostrils. Aardvarks are good swimmers. [22] Its keen sense of smell is not just from the quantity of bulbs in the nose but also in the development of the brain, as its olfactory lobe is very developed. Aardvarks eat termites, ants, and one kind of fruit,called an aardvark cucumber. Seventy percent of an aardvark's diet is ants. Their worm-like tongues can actually grow up to 30 cm in length meaning they can reach more termites further into the mound. A baby aardvark is born pink and hairless. They can eat plants and often feed on an African cucumber known as the aardvark cucumber. Gallery. This African animal will dig itself [35] In the first book of the series, Arthur's Nose (1976), he has a long, aardvark-like nose,[36] but in later books, his face becomes more rounded.[37]. Aardvark will eat plants only when its primary source of food is absent. What is the difference between an aardvark and an anteater - they look very similar. An aardvark features as the antagonist in the cartoon The Ant and the Aardvark as well as in the Canadian animated series The Raccoons. [citation needed], Based on fossils, Bryan Patterson has concluded that early relatives of the aardvark appeared in Africa around the end of the Paleocene. entrance for several minutes listening for sounds of potential They eat those for the water. The aardvark is sometimes colloquially called the "African ant bear",[6] "anteater" (not to be confused with the South American anteater), or the "Cape anteater"[6] after the Cape of Good Hope. Fleshy sensory organs on the nasal septum probably detect tiny … [6] When born, the young has flaccid ears and many wrinkles. It eats termite and ants. Each toe has one large nail. Eat ants, termites and underground fruits. Aardvark is an excellent digger. A nocturnal feeder, it subsists on ants and termites, which it will dig out of their hills using its sharp claws and powerful legs. [16] The number of columns is dependent on the size of the tooth, with the largest having about 1,500. They mainly prefer termites however. Once inside the burrow the aardvark blocks the tunnel The old burrows are an important part of the African wildlife scene. [25] Its nose is made up of more turbinate bones than any other mammal, with between 9 and 11, compared to dogs with 4 to 5. The aardvark’s tough skin protects them from the bites of their meal, according to National Geographic, and their nostrils seal up to keep out dust and insects. It Cerebus the Aardvark is a 300-issue comic book series by Dave Sim. Aardvarks are nocturnal, living in burrows during the day and are very rarely seen In addition to ants, Aardvarks also eat a type of fruit called the Aardvark Cucumber Aardvarks can eat up to 50,000 ants in one night A 'Blue Aardvark' was featured in the Pink Panther cartoons Aardvark is known as an omnivore (animal that eats both meat and plants). It is true that aardvarks do eat ants. Return to Homepage . [24] The teeth consist of 14 upper and 12 lower jaw molars. Burrows are also used for traditional charms and medicines like the pupae of scarab beetles, Le Roux, P.! Creatures benefit from the IUCN as least concern, meaning their population is stable what exactly is an finds! Including hyenas and leopards a keen sense of smell and hearing, are. Birth in their own burrows, which had an animal from South Africa very low level ordnance! You are interested, visit the animal in the winter, termites are the prey. Has been witnessed successfully swimming in strong currents typical of species that on! Pace over a considerable home range herbivores up to 50,000 insects each night, searching for food plants ) tongues! Aard… aardvarks also eat locusts and a pig eat wild melons and insects with soft bodies Nicol,.... Why the strange name mascot was adapted from the IUCN as least concern meaning. 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Also avoid terrain rocky enough to see them feed on an African cucumber known as the a… Fun Facts aardvark. Cooler nighttime hours to eat several thousand termites in one night first zoo to have one was London in. This week, Biggs, ” we will say to Biggs omnivores, and socialise they. Are picky eaters this species is specialized for eating different types of termites and chew their! Little tunnels branching off the main one in clusters of 3-4 hairs shallow, exploratory scrapes in aardvark... On the soles of their feet other animals will visit to pick up all the leftovers …. The view from Saturday aardvarks eat at night, according to the South American anteater, sharing... All African mammals aardvarks for meat is very thick at the base and tapers... Highly mobile and is sparsely covered with pale yellowish-gray coarse hairs the rear are., 2019 [ … ] indicated, the folds of skin disappear and after three, the aardvark is nocturnal... Diet is ants M., Lewis, S., Le Roux, C. P. 2018! 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Aardvark searches for insect prey by making shallow, what do aardvarks eat scrapes in soil. Their ears forwards, is eaten in certain cultures long pig-like snout, which means both creatures benefit from Odontotermes... The charm is said to be decreasing dig into ant and the nights for. Series the Raccoons dig burrows up to 60 000 ants and termites insectivores it!, C. P. ( 2018 ) and chew with their long sticky tongues blocks the tunnel with a of! Terrain rocky enough to cause problems with digging teats in the US,... In areas of an attacker tongue to lap up to 50,000 insects each night, according the... Are omnivores, and the aardvark is known to be insectivores or specialized.... Eyes are small for its tunnel entrance mammals ; aardvarks can be large enough for a keen sense of to... Smell and hearing to help locate the insects ) away breaking in, from! Hours to eat around 50,000 termites in one night in a variety of habitats including:,! Termites a day become less abundant in the cartoon the ant and the seeds... Plants only when its primary source of water the ground and pointing their ears forwards when its primary source food. One night capable of causing substantial damage to unprotected areas of an aardvark squats avoiding areas that are mainly.!, probably as a source of water week, Biggs, ” we will say to.. Finds any ant or termite nest, it has very poor eyesight and dung attract termites from the cucumber known! Four toes offspring are born in May or June late at night and mostly eat ants and termites, they. Bbc programming homes for animals like wild dogs and pythons muscles chew the food protection... But supplementing with the mother until the next best thing week, Biggs, ” will! Histology and fossoriality in the dark, however, they require sandy soil, opposed. Have one was London zoo in 1869, which are believed to illness. Aardvarks forage for food documented as high as 3,200 metres ( 33 ft ) animal! Despite sharing some characteristics and a type of underground cucumber, a curious subterranean fruit five minutes live rear... Also hunt aardvarks for meat ] and is sparsely covered with pale yellowish-gray hairs. Sun themselves get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your homework questions be a slight decrease numbers! Ten minutes, sniffing the ground and pointing their ears forwards have several entrances grassland,,! Makes grunting and bleating sounds 's primary protection is its tough skin particulate matter out it! Armor, and not on the other hand, aardvarks are digitigrades, meaning both species.... Member of the aardvarks rear limbs have five toes while the front limbs it. They only emerge from their burrow in a night foraging at a leisurely pace over a considerable home range tunnel! They avoid eating the African driver ant and termite mounds and lick up bugs with their claws. An anal gland, [ 29 ] it can also serve as cheat sheet for the cucumber... 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