Aardvark

Animal facts

The aardvark is the only living member of the order Tubulidentata and leads a solitary life.

Equipped with bad eyesight and a small brain, the aardvark makes up for its shortcomings in intelligence with its great sense of smell. Along with this the aardvark is also armed with strong limbs, a long snout and shovel like claws, the aardvark is an ants worst enemy. Digging in the soil, it locates ants and termites in the ground and uses its long, sticky tongue to capture and eat the small insects.

Aardvarks also dig to make burrows in which they live. Some are merely short, temporary funnel-shaped homes and others are long, intricate systems of tunnels.

Where they live

South of the Sahara, Africa

Habitat

Savannahs, grasslands, woodlands and bushland.

What they eat

Ants, termites and the occasional aardvark cucumber.

IUCN status

Unconfirmed