Aardvark
The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a nocturnal, burrowing mammal of sub-Saharan Africa that digs into termite mounds.
The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a nocturnal, burrowing mammal of sub-Saharan Africa that digs into termite mounds. Its name is Afrikaans for "earth pig", but it is not related to pigs or anteaters: it is the only living member of its own order, Tubulidentata.
🧬 Field Guide Specimen: Open Aardvark in the CRV Science Field Guide to log the specimen, see its place among the Mammals lineages in the Cladogram Explorer, and test your recall in the Red List conservation game.
A Termite Machine
Powerful claws open mounds, and a sticky tongue up to 30 centimeters long can pick up tens of thousands of termites in a night. Peg-like teeth lack enamel and are made of tubes of dentine, the source of the order's name.
Burrow Engineers
Aardvark burrows shelter warthogs, hyenas, pangolins and many other animals, and the digging aerates soil. It is the only member of its family (Orycteropodidae).
An African Ancestry
Genetic evidence places aardvarks in Afrotheria, together with elephants, hyraxes, manatees, tenrecs and golden moles, a group that arose in Africa. Its resemblance to anteaters is convergent evolution. See Rock Hyrax.
Aardvark at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Orycteropus afer |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Tubulidentata |
| Family | Orycteropodidae |
| Field Guide group | Mammals: Eutheria (Placentals) |
| Diagnostic feature (Field Guide) | Tubular pig-like snout, long rabbit-like ears, robust spade-like digging claws, rootless columnar dentine teeth. |
| IUCN Red List status | Least Concern (LC), assessed 2015 |
| Order | Tubulidentata |
| Clade | Afrotheria |
See Also
- Rock Hyrax — another afrotherian
- Asian Elephant — an afrotherian giant