Aardwolf

At night, in the woodlands and on the dry plains of southern and eastern Africa, the aardwolf searches along the ground for termites. When it finds food, the animal quickly laps the insects up with its long, sticky tongue. Then the aardwolf may groom itself. It uses its tongue to clean its narrow muzzle and the inside of its mouth. It lies down and licks its striped, yellowish fur.

Though its name means " earth wolf" in the afrikaans language of South Africa, the aardwolf is not related to the wolf. The seldom-seen animal belongs to the same family as the hyena. Aardwolf are sometimes mistaken for striped hyenas, though they are smaller. They grow only about 3 feet (91 cm) long from head to tail. Aardwolves are carnivores, that is, they are meat eaters. But their jaws and teeth, unlike those of their relatives, are two weak to crush anything but insects. Find out more about hyenas later on.

During the day, aardwolves sleep in holes in the ground. Usually, they stay in old burrows left by aardvarks or other animals. Occasionally assrdwolves dig dens of their dens for days at a time. A female aardwolf usually gives birth in a den. The newborn cubs-normally three in a litter-are blind and helpless. They are fully grown in about nine months.

When threaten by other animals, an aardwolf raises its black-and-yellow mane. This ridge of hair extends down the neck and back. When the mane stands on the end , the animal looks much larger than usual. The aardwolf also barks and roars ferociously. Though the aardwolf rarely fight, it will use its sharp, small teeth if it finds itself cornered. Usually it hides in its den. You only could find aardwolf in Africa.

INFO:

Length of head and body: 22-31 in (56-79 cm); tail, 8-12 in (20-30 cm)

Weight: 20-31 lb (9-14 kg)

Habitat and range: open woodlands and plains in eastern and southern Africa

Food: mostly termites