Home › Mammalia › Orycteropodidae › Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)
SPECIES PROFILE
Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)
Orycteropus
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Sub-Saharan Africa
DIET
Insectivorous
HABITAT
Savanna, grassland and bush
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Tubulidentata
FAMILY
Orycteropodidae
GENUS
Orycteropus
📋 Description
SIZE
Up to 1.3 m + 60 cm tail; 40-65 kg
COLORATION
Pinkish-grey, sparse hair, long snout and rabbit-like ears
ADAPTATIONS
Powerful claws rip open termite mounds; long sticky tongue
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Savanna, grassland and bush
DIET
Insectivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Sub-Saharan Africa
REPRODUCTION
Single young in a burrow
DIET DETAILS
Termites and ants
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat change, roadkill
💡 Interesting Facts
1
A strange nocturnal digger, the aardvark is the only living member of its entire order.
2
Its burrows shelter dozens of other species, from warthogs to owls.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Etosha National Park
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
May-September
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Best on night drives in the dry season; look for a pig-like animal digging at termite mounds.
🐾 You Might Also Want to See...
Species
Range
Status
Species
Range
Status
Species
Range
Status
Species
Range
Status
