Average life span in captivity: 23 years
The name Aardvark comes from South Africa's Afrikaans language and means 'earth pig' or 'ground pig'. Aardvarks are also known as 'antbears', 'anteaters', 'Cape anteater' and 'earth hogs'.
Aardvarks grow to body lengths of 3-5 ft (90-150 cm). The thick, hairless, rat-like tail grows to lengths of 1.5-2 ft (45-60 cm) and is used for defense. The shoulder height is 2 ft (60 cm). Aardvarks weigh 100-170 lbs (45-77 kg). Aardvarks are covered with a thick pink-grey skin that protects them from insect bites. The body is sparsely covered with bristly hairs a yellowish- or brownish-grey in colour. The leg hairs are darker than the body hairs. Long white hairs 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) long grow from the nostrils. These hairs, combined with folds of skin that cover the nostrils when the animal is digging, protects the nose from dirt clogs and insect attacks.
Aardvarks use their powerful feet and claws, which resemble spades, for fast digging of underground burrows and digging up large earthen termite mounds to feast on the insects within. Their tough thick skin protects them from bites whilst their wormlike tongue can be up to 30.5 cm long and is sticky to trap up to 50,000 termites and ants in one night!
While foraging in grasslands and forests aardvarks, also called "antbears," may travel several miles a night in search of large, earthen termite mounds. A hungry aardvark digs through the hard shell of a promising mound with its front claws and uses its long, sticky, wormlike tongue to feast on the insects within. It can close its nostrils to keep dust and insects from invading its snout, and its thick skin protects it from bites. It uses a similar technique to raid underground ant nests.
The aardvark is hunted by wild dogs, pythons, lions, cheetahs, leopards and man. Aardvarks are not fast runners but they can quickly dig a defensive burrow. The aardvark's tail is thick and strong and they will use it as a club. Their sharp claws are formidable weapons, and if caught in the open, the aardvark will roll on its back to engage all four feet in the fight. As mentioned, their hide is extremely tough and acts as its own line of defense. Aardvarks are not a threatened species.
The aardvark is hunted by wild dogs, pythons, lions, cheetahs, leopards and man. Aardvarks are not fast runners but they can quickly dig a defensive burrow. The aardvark's tail is thick and strong and they will use it as a club. Their sharp claws are formidable weapons, and if caught in the open, the aardvark will roll on its back to engage all four feet in the fight. As mentioned, their hide is extremely tough and acts as its own line of defense. Aardvarks are not a threatened species.
Aardvarks are nocturnal. They spend the hot African afternoon holed up in cool underground burrows dug with their powerful feet and claws that resemble small spades. After sunset, aardvarks put those claws to good use in acquiring their favorite food—termites.
Main burrows, which are used for breeding, can be deep and extensive, have several entrances and can be as long as 13 meters. Solitary animals aardvarks change their home borrow layout regularly, and from time to time move on and make a new one. The old burrows are then inhabited by smaller animals like the African Wild Dog.
During mating season the males will start to look for females. The males may fight each other for the right to mate with a female. After mating the couple will go their separate ways. Several months later the female will have one young. Occasionally twins have been identified but it is extremely rare.
The young will be well cared for by their mothers for the first six months of life. During that period of time she will teach them how to survive, how to dig, how to find food, and how to take care of all their needs. This enables the young to have the best chances of surviving on their own. The average lifespan for the Aardvark is 18 years in the wild and 23 years in captivity.
The aardvark has no known relatives, and is the only species in its order.
http://www.onekind.org/be_inspired/animals_a_z/aardvark/
http://www.thejunglestore.com/Aardvarks
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/aardvark.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aardvark
http://2wapworld.com/web/w_posts.php?forum_id=77&topic_id=2792511
http://www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/aardvark
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