Pictures of African Animals Aardvark and Aardvark Informations

By Pictures of African animals

on February 22, 2009

Pictures of African Animals Aardvark and Aardvark Informations

Aardvark is an amazing and medium sized, burrowing and nocturnal African mammal. Sometimes, aardvark is also called as ‘anteater’, ‘earth hog’, ‘earth pig’ or ‘Cape anteater’. The name aardvark comes from Afrikaans or Dutch term for earth pig. Early settlers from Europe thought it to be a domesticated pig though it is not related to pig. Moreover, despite sharing some of the characteristics and superficial resemblance, it is not related to South American Anteater. Closest living animals to aardvark are elephant shrews, hyraxes and elephants.

Aardvarks can be found in Sub-Saharan Africa in savannas, grasslands, woodlands and bushland where there is suitable habitat and available food (ants, termites etc) for them. Aardvark is vaguely pig-like in appearance with a stout body and an arched back. Limbs are moderate in length. Ears are disproportionately long. Tail is thick at the base and tapers gradually. Head of Aardvarks is greatly elongated. It rests on a short and thick neck. Mouth is small and tubular. They have a long, thin, snake-like protruding tongue and elaborate structures supporting a keen sense of smell. Aardvarks weigh around 40 to 65 kg with length between 1 to 1.3 meters. They are pale yellowish in color.