What is unique about aardvark?
An aardvark has a long snout that ends with a pig-like nose, rabbit-like ears and a tail similar to a kangaroo’s. Yet it is not closely related to any of those animals. Though they do eat ants — so they are technically “ant eaters” — aardvarks are a separate species from anteaters, which are found in South America.
What are aardvarks best known for?
Aardvarks, or Orycteropus afer, are known as expert diggers. They can shift away 4 ft (1.2 m) of soil in 30 seconds. They are also known for their pig-like appearance because of their snout. It is also the origin of their name that means earth pig in Afrikaans in South Africa.
How did the aardvark get its name?
Aardvarks live throughout Africa, south of the Sahara. Their name comes from South Africa’s Afrikaans language and means “earth pig.” A glimpse of the aardvark’s body and long snout brings the pig to mind.
How many ants does an aardvark eat in a day?
Anteaters are edentate animals—they have no teeth. But their long tongues are more than sufficient to lap up the 35,000 ants and termites they swallow whole each day.
Can aardvarks see in the dark?
As night falls, aardvarks will emerge cautiously from their dens, jumping around on the lookout for predators. They are able to see at night, but otherwise have poor vision and are color-blind. They rely on their senses of sound and smell, using their long ears and snouts to get around and find insects.
What does the Aardvark eat?
Aardvarks are picky eaters This species is specialized for eating termites. They move from one termite mound to another, dismantling the hills with their powerful claws. Insects are trapped by their long protractile tongue (as long as 30 centimeters), which is covered with thick, sticky saliva.
Do aardvarks have mouths?
The snout resembles an elongated pig snout. The mouth is small and tubular, typical of species that feed on ants and termites.
What does the aardvark eat?
Is aardvark edible?
There is a small number of edible animals which, for some peculiar charactertistics they present, are not affiliated in any of the mentioned categories, or are ambiguously affiliated. They are: aropi (flying squirrel), ate and ou (two species of pangolins), and igbo (aardvark).
Are aardvarks blind?
How fast can aardvarks run?
One called the animal the “Usain Bolt of aardvarks.” And that person wouldn’t be far off. The retired Olympic sprint champ was once clocked at nearly 28 miles an hour. An aardvark can reportedly accelerate to 26 miles an hour. Not too shabby.
What do aardvarks eat?
termites
Aardvarks are picky eaters This species is specialized for eating termites. They move from one termite mound to another, dismantling the hills with their powerful claws. Insects are trapped by their long protractile tongue (as long as 30 centimeters), which is covered with thick, sticky saliva.
What does an aardvark look like?
Aardvarks are mammals that look like they were made from parts of other animals. An aardvark has a long snout that ends with a pig-like nose, rabbit-like ears and a tail similar to a kangaroo’s.
What do Aardvarks eat?
The food of choice for aardvarks is the termite, though they eat other insects as well. Aardvarks are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals.
What is group of aardvarks called?
Aardvarks were formerly classified in the same group as armadillos, sloths, and anteaters. Today, the aardvark is classified in a group of mammals called the Tubulidentata.
Do aardvarks bite?
Aardvark. A thick hide protects the aardvark from insect bites and stings. If threatened while away from a sheltering burrow, an aardvark can dig its way out of sight in five minutes. An acute sense of hearing protects it from being surprised by predators, which include pythons, lions, leopards, and hyenas.