Aardvark Fact Sheet

Common Name: Aardvark

Scientific Name: Orycteropus afer

Wild Status: Least Concern

Habitat: Savanna and Woodland

Country: Sub-Sarahan Africa

Shelter: Underground burrows

Life Span: 23 years

Size: 7 feet long with tail, 130-180 pounds

Details:

The aardvark is a nocturnal, insectivorous mammal found throughout almost the entirety of sub-Saharan Africa in most habitats except wet forest. Despite a strong superficial resemblance to the giant anteater, the two animals are not closely related and are an example of convergent evolution. Aardvarks are the sole surviving representatives of their order, Tubulidentata. They posses strong front claws that are used to tear open ant and termite nests, and like anteaters they have an elongated snout and protrusible, sticky tongue to gather insects. When not out foraging for food, aardvarks spend their time resting in underground burrows.

Cool Facts:

The name aardvark is derived from the Afrikaans language and means "earth pig." An aardvark's snout contains a higher concentration of olfactory bulbs than any other mammal. The only non-insect food that aardvarks eat is is a plant known as the aardvark cucumber. Arthur, the title character from the popular children's cartoon series, is an anthropomorphic aardvark.

Taxonomic Breakdown:

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Tubulidentata Family: Orycteropodidae Genus: Orycteropus Species: O. afer

Conservation & Helping:

The aardvark is not endangered and is classified as least concern.

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