Aardvarks belong to the family Orycteropodidae, within the order Tubulidentata. They are remarkable for their specialized adaptations to a nocturnal, fossorial lifestyle, feeding primarily on ants and termites. The sole living species, Orycteropus afer, is native to sub-Saharan Africa and is sometimes called the “antbear” due to its diet and habits.
- Family Orycteropodidae is the only family in the order Tubulidentata.
- Aardvarks are solitary, nocturnal, and excellent diggers.
- Their diet consists mainly of ants and termites, which they extract with a long, sticky tongue.
- The only extant species is Orycteropus afer.
Aardvark: Orycteropus afer
The common aardvark is Orycteropus afer, the only living species in the family Orycteropodidae. It is adapted to an insectivorous diet and a subterranean lifestyle.
- Genus and species: Orycteropus afer.
- The family includes only this one living species.
- Ancient relatives of aardvarks are known from fossil records dating back to the Paleocene.
Aardvarks (Orycteropodidae) are fascinating mammals uniquely adapted to a nocturnal, burrowing lifestyle and a specialized diet of ants and termites. As the sole members of the order Tubulidentata, they represent a distinct branch of mammalian evolution.
- Aardvarks belong to the family Orycteropodidae and order Tubulidentata.
- The only living species is Orycteropus afer, native to Africa.
- They have unique dental structures and are specialized for digging and insect-eating.