Aardwolf

The aardwolf is a small, insectivorous member of the hyena family found in two separated populations across eastern and southern Africa, in open grassland and scrubland. Despite its close relation to the much larger spotted, striped and brown hyenas, it has evolved a highly specialized diet consisting almost entirely of termites, particularly harvester termites, which it laps up with a long, sticky tongue, consuming tens of thousands in a single night. Its slender build, weak jaws and small, peg-like teeth reflect this diet and stand in sharp contrast to the powerful bone-crushing bite of its hyena relatives, though it retains the sloping back, mane and striped coat pattern typical of the family. Aardwolves are primarily nocturnal and solitary foragers, though breeding pairs may share and defend a territory together, marking it with a distinctive scent secreted from glands near the tail. It remains widespread and is not currently considered threatened, though it is sometimes killed by farmers who mistakenly blame it for livestock losses actually caused by other predators.