The spelling of its name gives the aardvark its place at the beginning of most animal lists. Aardvark means "earth pig" in the Afrikaans language of South Africa. Its snout does look like a pig's. But this long-nosed, long-eared animal is not related to the pig or to any other animal!
The aardvark's nighttime habits make the animal difficult to find and to study. Only after sunset does it leave its burrow in the grasslands or the forests to search for food. Outside the den, the stocky animal, which measures about 6 feet (183 cm) from head to tail, pauses. It listens and sniffs for danger. If all is safe, it torts away. The aardvark moves on its toes and claws, often following a zigzag path. Its tail drags behind, making a groove in the ground.
When the aardvark finds a termite mound. The sunbaked earth of a mound can dry as hard as concrete. But the aardvark is a strong burrower. With the thick, sturdy claws of its front feet, it can burrow through even hard-packed soil. The aardvark then pushes its blunt snout close to the opening in the mound. It catches the termites with its long, worm-shaped tongue.
Tough skin protects the aardvark from insect bites. The animal can even close its nostrils, so thattermites, ants, and dust do not get into its snout. After the aardvark has eaten from one mound, it may move on to another or dig into an underground ant nest. Aardvarks may travel several miles a night searching for food.
Although it is a timid animal, the aardvark can fight off attackers such as big cats and wild dogs. It sits on its rump and lashes out with its front claws. Sometimes the aardvark lies on its back and slashes at an enemy with all four feet. But rather than fight, the aardvark will try to escape from danger. It runs for its den or quickly digs another.
By morning, the aardvark returns to its cool tunnel-like burrow. All day, the aardvark sleeps there curled up in a circular room. There is just enought room forthe aardvark to turn around-and leave its den headfirst. A female aardvark usually has one offspring a year. The hairless newborn has tender, pinkish skin. It stays in the den about two weeks. The it begins to search for food with its mother. After six months, young aardvark digs its own burrow. But it stays near its mother for several months more.
INFO
AARDVARK:
Length of head and body: 43-53 in (109-135 cm); tail, 21-26 in (53-66)cm
Weight: 110-180 lb (50-82kg)
Habitat and range: forests and grasslands of central, southern, and eastern Africa.
Food: usually termites, ants, and somefruit.
Life span: about 10 years in captivity