Aardvark

Aardvark The Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a nocturnal, solitary animal, and is the only surviving member of the order Tubulidentata. It is placed alone in this order, because of its special teeth, which, instead of having a pulp cavity, have lots of thin tubes of dentine, each containing pulp and held together by cementum. Adults have only molars at the back of the jaw as teeth, the other teeth fall out. Its diet consists almost exclusively on ants and termites and the only fruit it eats: cucumber. The aardvark uses its front legs to dig out termites and ants and it uses them to create burrows. The aardvark weighs between 40 and 60 kilograms and is named after the Dutch words for "earth" and "pig". It lives in the sub-Saharan desert and is not threatened. Did you know "Aardvark" is the first word in your English dictionary ?

Picture of the Aardvark licensed under GFDL

Keywords: nocturnal

Which zoos have them?
Brookfield Zoo (United States)

The Aardvark, antbear is listed as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Namings for the aardvark
A young / baby of a aardvark is called a 'pup'.
Some facts about the
Aardvark

Adult weight : 60 kg (132 lbs)

Maximum longevity : 30 years

Female maturity :730 days

Male maturity : 730 days

Gestation : 225 days

Weaning : 103 days

Litter size : 1

Litters per year : 1

Interval between litters : 365 days

Weight at birth : 1.8 kg (3.96 lbs)

Weight at weaning : 6.25 kg (13.75 lbs)

Basal metabolic rate : 34 W

Body mass : 48 kg (105.6 lbs)

Temperature : 34.85 °C (94.73 °F)

Source: AnAge, licensed under CC

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