Home › Mammalia › Hyaenidae › Aardwolf (Proteles cristata)
SPECIES PROFILE
Aardwolf (Proteles cristata)
Proteles
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Eastern and southern Africa
DIET
Insectivorous
HABITAT
Open grassland and scrub
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Hyaenidae
GENUS
Proteles
📋 Description
SIZE
Up to 80 cm + 25 cm tail; 8-12 kg
COLORATION
Yellowish with black stripes and a bushy mane
ADAPTATIONS
Sticky tongue laps tens of thousands of termites a night
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Open grassland and scrub
DIET
Insectivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Eastern and southern Africa
REPRODUCTION
2-4 cubs
DIET DETAILS
Harvester termites
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Persecution, roadkill
💡 Interesting Facts
1
A shy, insect-eating relative of the hyena that can lap up 250,000 termites in a night.
2
Despite its striped, hyena-like look it has weak jaws and never scavenges carcasses.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Karoo National Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
May-September
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Look on night drives in open country; the shy aardwolf licks up termites rather than hunting.
