Aardvark

The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a medium-sized nocturnal mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is the sole living species in the order Tubulidentata. Aardvarks are solitary burrowers, creating extensive tunnel systems with their strong forelimbs and claws.

Within the family Orycteropodidae, the aardvark represents the only living member of Tubulidentata. Its most distinctive feature is tubulidentate dentition: hundreds of slender, enamel-free teeth that are worn away and replaced over time.

Aardvarks have a pig-like body, a long snout, large ears, and a thick tail. They are typically about 1 meter in length and weigh roughly 16–40 kilograms. Their fur is coarse and usually yellowish-brown.

They range across much of sub-Saharan Africa, inhabiting savannas, grasslands, woodlands, and some open forests. They avoid dense forests and arid deserts, and are primarily active at night to avoid heat.

Aardvarks feed mainly on ants and termites, using powerful forelimbs to dig into nests. They shove the insects into their mouth with a long, sticky tongue. They can close their nostrils when digging and rely on a keen sense of smell.

Aardvarks are largely solitary outside of breeding. Mating results in a gestation of about seven months and a single young is usually born. The young stay with the mother in the burrow for several months before becoming independent.

The IUCN lists the aardvark as Least Concern. The species has a wide distribution, but local populations decline due to habitat loss, hunting for meat, and drought in some regions.