What kind of animal is an aardvark?

2020-07-30 by No Comments

What kind of animal is an aardvark?

aardvark, (Orycteropus afer), also called antbear, stocky African mammal found south of the Sahara Desert in savanna and semiarid areas. The name aardvark—Afrikaans for “earth pig”—refers to its piglike face and burrowing habits.

What are some fun facts about aardvarks?

Fun Facts

  • Aardvark is the first word in the English dictionary.
  • Aardvarks are digitigrades, meaning they walk on their toes, and not on the soles of their feet.
  • The time it stands on its soles is when an aardvark squats.
  • They can eat 50,000 to 60,000 ants and termites in one night.
  • Aardvarks are good swimmers.

Are aardvarks aggressive?

Their main form of defence is to escape very quickly underground however, they are also known to be quite aggressive when threatened by these larger animals. Aardvarks use their strong, sharp claws to try and injure their attacker along with kicking the threatening animal with their powerful back legs.

Is an aardvark the same as an anteater?

Aardvark is not another name for an anteater. Both animals share similar facial features and eating habits, but are otherwise different. Aardvarks live all around Africa while anteaters like in South and Central America.

What is a female aardvark called?

Common Names: The name Aardvark comes from South Africa’s Afrikaans language and means ‘earth pig’ or ‘ground pig’. Aardvarks are also known as ‘antbears’, ‘Cape anteater’ and ‘earth hogs’. A male aardvark is called a boar, the female a a sow, and the young is called a pup.

How does an aardvark defend themselves?

The aardvark’s fast digging skill also helps protect it from predators, such as hyenas and lions. When threatened, an aardvark can dig a hole and cover itself up in about ten minutes. Its large claws are another layer of defense. Though aardvarks remain widespread, humans are the aardvark’s biggest threat.

Who named aardvark?

Humans have coexisted with aardvarks for tens of thousands of years, but this animal only received its modern name when Dutch colonists landed on the southern tip of Africa in the middle 17th century and noticed its habit of burrowing into the soil (clearly, the indigenous tribes of this region must have had their own …

Can a aardvark climb trees?

Tag Archive for: can aardvarks climb trees It is unusual, shy and nocturnal rare to see on a safari. Due to the powerful limbs plus the spade-like claws, the Aardvark is able to dig up a 60 cm burrow in about 15 seconds.

Is a pangolin and aardvark?

As nouns the difference between aardvark and pangolin is that aardvark is the nocturnal, insectivorous, burrowing, mammal while pangolin is the scaly anteater; any of several long-tailed, scale-covered mammals of the order pholidota of tropical africa and asia, the sole extant genus of which is manis .

Is aardvark edible?

There is a small number of edible animals which, for some peculiar charactertistics they present, are not affiliated in any of the mentioned categories, or are ambiguously affiliated. They are: aropi (flying squirrel), ate and ou (two species of pangolins), and igbo (aardvark).

Can an aardvark jump?

Tag Archive for: can aardvarks jump It is unusual, shy and nocturnal rare to see on a safari. Due to the powerful limbs plus the spade-like claws, the Aardvark is able to dig up a 60 cm burrow in about 15 seconds.

How big is an aardvark and how much does it weigh?

The stress and strain resistance provided by CCCB allows aardvarks to create their burrows, ultimately leading to a favorable environment for plants and a variety of animals. An aardvark’s weight is typically between 60 and 80 kilograms (130–180 lb).

Where does the name Aardvark come from in Afrikaans?

The name “aardvark” (Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈɑːrtfark]) comes from earlier Afrikaans (erdvark) and means “earth pig” or “ground pig” (aarde: earth/ground, vark: pig), because of its burrowing habits.

Where can I find the Aardvark in Namibia?

Encyclopaedia Britannica’s editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree…. Orphaned aardvark at Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary, Windhoek, Namibia.

What kind of habitat does the Aardvark live in?

The aardvark excavates branching burrows, usually 2–3 metres long but sometimes up to 13 metres, with several sleeping chambers. It abandons old burrows and digs new ones frequently, which thereby provides dens used by other species such as the African wild dog ( Lycaon pictus ). The aardvark’s diet consists almost entirely of ants and termites.