Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores - Primitive Ungulates: Aardvark

Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores
Primitive Ungulates: Aardvark
Page 36

Aardvark
Orycteropus afer

Length: 100-158 cm

Height: 55-66 cm

Tail: 44-63 cm

Weight: 40 -82 kg

Status: Not endangered but has been exterminated from agricultural lands.

Habitat: Aardvarks are found wherever there is a year round abundance of ants, termites and beetle larvae.

Food: Aardvarks are generally classed as primitive ungulates and may have shared an early ancestor with rhinos, hyraxes, horses and other hoofed animals. Unlike these other species, the aardvark does not eat plants. It is strictly an insect-eater.

Aardvarks eat termites, ants and larvae. Usually, the animal eats the species that live close to, or on the surface of, the ground. The aardvark, with its large, powerful claws, can dig up termite colonies that are further below the ground. The extent of damage that the animal does to the colony is limited if there are many soldiers to defend it. Termites are the preferred prey, but where ants are more abundant, they will be eaten.

Insects are swept into the mouth by the aardvark's long, sticky tongue. Aardvarks have poorly developed teeth that likely play no role at all in the digestion of the hard-shelled insects. The insects are ground up by the aardvark’s muscular stomach.

Aardvarks find their prey by walking along with their nose near the ground and their large ears cocked forward. They use both their sense of sight and smell to locate the insects.

Aardvarks compete with several carnivores that also feed on insects. Included among them are bat-eared foxes, aardwolves, jackals and several species of birds. However, none of these other species feeds exclusively on the same species that the aardvark does.

Social System: Aardvark are solitary animals. Females may be accompanied by one (rarely two) offspring. During the day, aardvarks go into burrows or warrens. A burrow is usually only a few meters long. Warrens are more complex. They will have up to eight entrances and go much deeper. They can be up to 6 meters down and 13 meters long. An aardvark can dig a burrow in 5 to 20 minutes depending on the soil. Several unrelated aardvarks may spend the daylight hours in a warren.

Entrances are usually plugged, with a vent left open for air flow.

Aardvarks are wonderful diggers and can, in the right soil, dig very rapidly.

Males wander more than females.

Behavior: One (rarely two) young are born in a secluded burrow. They weigh about 2 kilograms (4 pounds) at birth. The gestation period is 7 months. Young are born naked but with their eyes open. They first follow their mother when they are two weeks old. They begin eating insects at three months of age and are independent by six months.

Breeding occurs first when they are around two years old. Aardvarks can live for up to 18 years.

Predators: Lions and spotted hyenas may pose a threat but an adult aardvark has strong claws and can put up a defense.

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