The aardvark is sometimes called an “ant bear.” However, that name seems to be perpetuated by dictionaries and word games more than popular usage.
Learn more about the aardvark!
The aardvark is an odd-looking beast, resembling a giant, hump-backed rat with the head of an anteater, the snout of a pig, and the ears of a rabbit. It grows up to seven-and-a-half feet (2.3 meters) long, including its rat-like—though thick and powerful—tail. Adults average 110-150 pounds (50-70 kg), but may weigh as much as 180 pounds (82 kg).
Carried on a short neck, the head is very long and narrow, similar to anteaters but ending in a thicker, pig-like snout. One author compared the upright smooth, waxy ears to “scalded pig’s skin,” the tongue—which often hangs out of the mouth—to a coiled clock spring.
Long, curved whitish hairs 1-2 inches (25-50 mm) long grow from the aardvark’s circular nostrils. There are numerous vibrissae on the face around the muzzle and about the eyes.
Adult aardvarks carry twenty teeth, which grow continuously and lack enamel, towards the back of the jaws. (Young aardvarks have front teeth, but they fall out about the time the animals reach maturity.) Scientists placed the aardvark in its own order, Tubulidentata, which means “tubule toothed.” The name derives from the aardvark’s cheek teeth, which resemble flat-crowned columns. Each tooth is made of numerous tubular pulp cavities surrounded by hexagonal prisms of dentine.
Aardvarks are covered with thick pinkish-gray skin that protects them from insect bites and may even save them from predators. It is scantily covered with bristly hair varying from dull brownish-gray to dull yellowish-gray. Hair on the legs is often darker than that on the body.
Low forequarters add to aardvark’s hump-backed appearance. Short, stocky legs end in toes bearing long, straight, strong, and blunt claws. There are four toes on each front foot, five on each hind foot. The toes are webbed at the base.
In summary, the aardvark looks like—well, an aardvark!
The aardvark tends to walk on its claws. Its tail often leaves a track on soft ground.
When pursued by enemies, aardvarks have three choices. The first two are run or dig! The aardvark isn’t known as a fast runner, though it is said to escape with surprising speed. However, aardvarks excel at burrowing—an aardvark digging in soft earth can beat several people armed with shovels! Its powerful forefeet can even tear through hard, sun-baked ground.
What about that third choice? If cornered, an aardvark fights back. It may strike with its tail or shoulders or rear on its hind legs and slash with its clawed forefeet. A desperate aardvark may even roll on its back, slashing with all four feet.
Like most animals, aardvarks prefer to simply avoid predators. They have acute hearing, and flee for their burrows at the least hint of danger. But their eyesight seems to be poor; they frequently crash into trees, bushes, and other obstructions when running.
If aardvarks aren’t the most talented runners or fighters, what are they good at? Digging!
Aardvarks dig like dogs, pushing dirt backwards under the body. However, aardvarks rest on their thick tail (as well as their hind legs). The nostrils are sealed from dirt by fleshy tentacles and dense hairs.
When a pile of dirt is sufficiently high, the aardvark pushes it back or to the side using its hind feet and sometimes its tail.
Aardvarks aren’t commonly seen because they’re mostly nocturnal. They usually spend the day in their burrows, curled up in a tight circle, the hind limbs and tail protecting the snout. Sometimes, an aardvark may be seen sunning itself at its burrow entrance in the early morning.
It is its diet that caused the aardvark to evolve a form and habits similar to anteaters and other ant- and termite-eating mammals. An aardvark’s powerful claws are adapted to breaking open hard clay termite nests. Its narrow head can be thrust into holes and crevices. And it laps up insects with a sticky tongue that can be extended as much as twelve inches (300 mm).
While some anteaters have long, coarse hair, aardvarks are protected from insect bites by their thick skins.
Aardvarks travel as far as ten miles (16 km) a night, visiting termite mounds. A lucky aardvark may hear and smell an aardvark buffet—a termite column on the march! If aardvarks dream, they likely dream of such columns, which may contain tens of thousands of termites free for the taking (no digging required!).
Aardvarks also eat other insects and may prey on small mammals, including the fat mouse (Steatomys pratensis).
This Infomation comes to you from http://www.geobop.com/Mammals/Tubulidentata/2.htm
