Aardvark - African Ant Bear

aardvark is also called African Ant Bear (Orycteropus afer), heavily built mammal, ranging south of the Sahara in forest or plain, that constitutes the family Orycteropodidae and the order Tubulidentata. The name aardvark—Afrikaans for “earth pig”—refers to its stout, pig like body, up to 180 centimeters (6 feet) long, including the 60-cm tail. Its coat varies from glossy black and full to sandy yellow and scant. The aardvark has a long snout, rabbit like ears, and short legs. The toes are long and equipped with large, flattened claws; the second and third toes are united by a web of tissue.

One young is born in summer. The aardvark excavates a burrow, in which it rests by day. It ventures out at night to rip open ant and termite nests and rapidly lap up the routed insects, using its sticky 30-centimeter-long tongue. Although not aggressive, the aardvark can fend off such formidable attackers as lions and leopards by parrying with its claws.

Though formerly classified with the true anteaters, sloths, and armadillos in the order Edentata, aardvarks differ fromthem and from all other mammals in having permanent teeth traversed by tubules that radiate from a central pulp cavity; hence, the ordinal name Tubulidentata. The tubulidentate line may be 60 million years old. The relationship of tubulidentates to other orders of mammals remains uncertain.