However, scientists have recently discovered a curious relationship, with a species of ground cucumber. This plant flowers underground and requires to pass through the gut of an Aardvark before it will germinate. Aardvarks actively search out these plants, although no-one is quite sure why they should be so keen to find them, except as a source of water. The Aardvark is the only member of the order Tubulidentata, the name meaning tubular teeth. Unlike anteaters, which are toothless, Aardvarks have 20 simple, continually growing rootless teeth.
Aardvarks are excellent diggers.
In soft earth they are reputed to dig faster than several humans using shovels. They are largely solitary and males and females occupy separate burrows. Aardvarks feed by digging into termite mounds with their powerful forelimbs and modified front claws. Insects are lapped with a long, sticky tongue which can extend 25-30 cm out of the mouth. I have produced a Christmas AardCard every year since 1983.