The aardvark, a mammal native to Africa, possesses a distinctive appearance with a pig-like snout and long, rabbit-like ears. Classified as Orycteropus afer, it is the sole living member of its order, Tubulidentata. Aardvarks are solitary and primarily active at night, inhabiting savannas, grasslands, and woodlands across the southern two-thirds of the African continent.
Primary Food Sources
Aardvarks are insectivores, meaning their diet consists almost entirely of ants and termites. These insects provide all the necessary nutrients and energy for aardvarks. They show a preference for certain species; for example, studies in the Nama Karoo indicate that ants like Anoplolepis custodiens are predominant prey, followed by termites such as Trinervitermes trinervoides.
Aardvarks consume a remarkable volume of these insects. An adult aardvark can ingest as many as 50,000 ants and termites in a single night. While termites form the bulk of their diet, ants are also a crucial part of their food intake. Aardvarks do not completely destroy insect colonies, ensuring populations can rebound for future foraging.
Specialized Eating Habits
Aardvarks employ several adaptations to acquire their insect prey. They are exceptional diggers, utilizing powerful, shovel-like claws on their forefeet to rapidly excavate into hard termite mounds and ant nests. These robust, flattened claws resemble spades, aiding in breaking through tough soil. Their strong limbs allow them to apply significant force, enabling quick and efficient digging.
Once a nest is breached, the aardvark uses its long, sticky tongue, which can extend up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches), to efficiently lap up insects. A thick hide protects the aardvark from bites and stings. Aardvarks possess an acute sense of smell to locate subterranean insect colonies, and their large, mobile ears aid in detecting prey and predators. They can close their nostrils, lined with dense hair, to prevent dust and insects from entering while digging.
Aardvarks are nocturnal foragers, emerging from their burrows after sunset to search for food. They travel in a zigzag pattern, keeping their nose to the ground to sniff out insect concentrations. This nocturnal activity helps them avoid high daytime temperatures and reduces exposure to predators.
Occasional Dietary Additions
While ants and termites constitute the vast majority of an aardvark’s diet, they occasionally consume other food items. The most notable plant material is the wild cucumber, Cucumis humifructus, also known as the “aardvark cucumber.” Its fruit grows underground, and aardvarks are thought to be the only animals that dig it up.
Aardvarks consume this cucumber primarily for its water content, especially in dry periods. This symbiotic relationship helps disperse the plant’s seeds, often near their burrows. Such instances of consuming plant matter are opportunistic and do not form a significant or regular part of their diet. Occasionally, aardvarks might also consume other insects like beetles and their larvae, especially when primary food sources are less available.