The African aardvark is one of the strangest of all living mammals. It eats ants but not an anteater; it has ears like a donkey's; and it looks loke a long-nosed pig. In many ways, it can be thought of as a living fossil.
Thick-skinned mammals
The name "aardvark" comes from Dutch and means "earth pig." Aardvarks are pig-like animals with thick skin that protects them from the bites of the ants and termites on which they feed.
<== Aardvark
Their front legs are short, powerful digging tools. Aardvarks can excavate a termite mound in just a few minutes. As well as ants and termites, aardvarks eat the fruits of a wild South African plant known as Aardvarks cucumber. They also like locusts, grasshoppers. and beetles.
When atacked, aardvarks are fierce and will slash and kick with their legs and claws. Theycan also do a speedy somersault and stand on their back legs and tails to defend themselves with their front feet.
Usually, aardvarks are found anywhere that termites live. When looking for food, aardvarks move in a zigzag path, sniffing the ground in a strip 33 yards wide. They may travel as much as 18 miles in one night.
Aardvarks dig 3 types of burrows: for food, for temporary shelter and for living in. Abandoned burrows are important for the survival of many smaller animals, such as hyraxes, which use them as dens or as refuges.
The presence of aardvarks in farming areas helps control the pests that destroy crops. But their burrows can be hazardous to vehicles and galloping horses. Aardvarks are hunted for their meat and hide.