The aardvark is a burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, the only living species in its taxonomic order, with a long snout, large rabbit-like ears, a thick tail and powerful digging claws adapted for tearing into termite mounds and ant nests. It feeds almost exclusively on ants and termites, using an acute sense of smell to locate nests and a long, sticky tongue to extract insects after breaking through the mound's hardened walls. Aardvarks dig extensive burrow systems that provide shelter for themselves and, once abandoned, for numerous other species, making them an important ecosystem engineer across their range. They remain widespread and elusive due to their nocturnal habits, and the species is classified as being of least concern.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or ExtinctDerived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status. Scientific Name Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Activity Pattern Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceVaguely pig-like, with a stout, arched-back body sparsely covered in coarse hairs. 1 Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source Aardvark (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem
Source Aardvark (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Aardvark (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section, opening sentence
The aardvark ( ; Orycteropus afer) is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa.
Conservation status section, IUCN designation sentence
It has received an official designation from the IUCN as least concern.
Description section, opening sentences
The aardvark is vaguely pig-like in appearance. Its body is stout with a prominently arched back and is sparsely covered with coarse hairs.
In Ecosystem: Kalahari Desert, Conservation
A study on aardvarks in the Kalahari Desert saw that five out of six aardvarks being studied perished following a drought.
In Biome: Grassland, Habitat and range
Aardvarks are found in sub-Saharan Africa, where suitable habitat (savannas, grasslands, woodlands and bushland) and food (i.e., ants and termites) is available.
View the Source 2. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
3. Aardvark (Wikipedia)
4. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Orycteropus afer (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive (hunted-fished)
Sometimes humans hunt aardvarks for their meat and hide, although products made out of aardvarks are subject to trade restrictions
View the Source 5. GBIF Species API
6. Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 mammal diet data
Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014)Row: orycteropus afer
403 Orycteropus afer Orycteropodidae 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ref_1 ABC G A 1 1 0 Ref_1 ABC 52350.4 Ref_117 1
MamFuncDat.txt row Orycteropus afer, Activity columns
Orycteropus afer Orycteropodidae 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ref_1 ABC G A 1 1 0
View the Source 7. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool: AnAge entry for Orycteropus afer
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of LiverpoolLifespan, ageing, and relevant traitsQuote, Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
Maximum longevity 29.8 years (captivity)
Wikidata: Aardvark
Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeChild Taxon Of: TubulidentataView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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