page_title: Aardvark
section_title: Ecology and behaviour
hierarchical_section_title: Aardvark / Ecology and behaviour
caption_attribution_description: Afrikaans: Erdvarkgat, geleë tussen termiethope in die grasveld binne Dingaanstat, KwaZulu-Natal Deutsch: Eingang zu einem Erdbau eines Erdferkels English: Aardvark burrow in the grassland that now covers Dingane's royal kraal, uMgungundlovu, KwaZulu-Natal. Some termitaria are situated nearby.
context_page_description: The aardvark is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. It is the only living species of the order Tubulidentata, although other prehistoric species and genera of Tubulidentata are known. Unlike other insectivores, it has a long pig-like snout, which is used to sniff out food. It roams over most of the southern two-thirds of the African continent, avoiding areas that are mainly rocky. A nocturnal feeder, it subsists on ants and termites, which it will dig out of their hills using its sharp claws and powerful legs. It also digs to create burrows in which to live and rear its young. It receives a "least concern" rating from the IUCN, although its numbers seem to be decreasing.
  Aardvarks are afrotheres, a clade which also includes elephants, manatees, and hyraxes.
context_section_description: Aardvarks live for up to 23 years in captivity. Its keen hearing warns it of predators: lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs, hyenas, and pythons. Some humans also hunt aardvarks for meat. Aardvarks can dig fast or run in zigzag fashion to elude enemies, but if all else fails, they will strike with their claws, tail and shoulders, sometimes flipping onto their backs lying motionless except to lash out with all four feet. They are capable of causing substantial damage to unprotected areas of an attacker. They will also dig to escape as they can, when pressed, dig extremely quickly.
caption: Entrance to a burrow
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