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Orycteropus afer (Aardvark, Antbear)
erdvark [Afrikaans]; Erdferkel [German]; orycterope [French]; muhanga,
kukukifuku [Swahili]; isambane [isiNdebele, isiZulu, siSwati]; thakadu [Sesotho,
Setswana]; sambani [Shona]; xomboni [Xitsonga]; thagalu [Tshivenda]; takalo [Lozi];
ungengu [Yei]; |Khuwub [Nama, Damara]
Life
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Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia
(terrestrial vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota >
Synapsida (mammal-like reptiles) > Therapsida > Theriodontia
> Cynodontia > Mammalia (mammals)
> Placentalia (placental mammals) >
Afrotheria > Tubulidentata (aardvarks)
Rarely seen during the day the aardvark is one of Africa’s
most bizarre and specialized animals and the only species in the order
Tubulidentata (this name refers to characteristic and unique “tubule-teeth”).
Its Afrikaans name means “earth-pig” and it resembles a pig in colouration, the
sparse bristle-type hair, its long tubular snout and long ears. It has a heavily
muscled tapering tail and powerful, stout legs with ending in digits with long
spade-like claws. It is adapted for digging and rips into the termite mound,
once opened it uses its round, long sticky tongue to probe for the insects their
larvae and eggs. Their well developed salivary glands and muscular gizzard-like
stomach break down the food. Aardvark do not need to chew their food. They have
no incisor or canine teeth and continuously growing open rooted peg-like
premolars and molars. The check teeth are not surrounded by enamel, but by
cementum. Aardvarks have a highly developed sense of smell.
Aardvarks are nocturnal and solitary, except when females
are accompanied by a single young.
Females excavate extensive permanent burrow systems where
the young are born. Males tend to excavate shallower temporary burrows that are
used for refuge during the day. Studies suggest that the animals may range as
far as 15 km during a 10 hour foraging period.
An interesting fact is that the aardvark is one animal that
appears to have benefited from the overstocking of farms with domestic stock.
The trampling of the grass by the stock, makes the grass more available to
termites on which the aardvark feed.
As a result of its elusive habits the aardvark is one of
the least known terrestrial mammals.
Distribution
Throughout South Africa, where termites occur.
Habitat
Wide range of habitats, but prefers open woodland,
sparse scrub and grassland.
Size
Body Length 140-180 cm; weight range 40 – 70 kg
Gestation
7 months
Life span
10 years (in captivity)
Food
Predominantly ants and termites.
Dental Formula
I C P M =
20
Threats
Aardvark flesh is apparently similar to pork and the
teeth and claws are also prized as trinkets and totems.
Text by Denise Hamerton
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