The aardvark, whose name translates from Afrikaans as “earth pig,” is a unique mammal native to Africa, primarily south of the Sahara. It is the sole living member of its taxonomic order, Tubulidentata. This creature is recognized for its unusual appearance, combining a long snout and large, rabbit-like ears.
What Aardvarks Are Called When Together
The collective noun for a group of aardvarks is most commonly cited as an “armoury,” a reference to their formidable, spade-like claws. However, this term is rarely used by scientists or wildlife observers. The aardvark’s solitary nature means groups are almost never naturally encountered, explaining the term’s obscurity.
The Solitary Life of the Aardvark
Aardvarks are solitary animals, interacting primarily only to breed. This makes the formation of any lasting “armoury” unlikely in the wild. They are nocturnal, spending daylight hours asleep in one of the many burrows they maintain across their home range. A single animal can occupy a territory spanning several square kilometers, using a network of temporary and permanent burrows.
These burrows are a central feature of their solitary existence, providing protection from predators like lions and pythons, as well as the heat of the day. Females will rear their single offspring within a burrow for several months before the young aardvark becomes independent. To ensure safety, an aardvark will often block the entrance to its resting burrow with soil or curl into a tight ball just inside the opening.
Physical Characteristics and Specialized Diet
The aardvark’s anatomy is specialized for digging and feeding on insects. Its most recognizable feature is its elongated, pig-like snout, which contains a strong sense of smell used to locate underground insect nests. Aardvarks also possess long, tubular ears that can be folded back and closed while tunneling, helping to keep out dust and dirt.
Their powerful, spade-like front claws are capable of breaking into the outer shells of termite mounds. Once the nest is breached, the aardvark employs its long, thin, and sticky tongue, which can be extended up to 30 centimeters, to lap up its prey. This diet is myrmecophagous, consisting almost entirely of ants and termites, with an adult able to consume tens of thousands of insects in a single night.
The aardvark’s teeth are unusual, lacking enamel and consisting of small, peg-like structures. Because insects are swallowed whole, the aardvark relies on a muscular, gizzard-like stomach to grind and digest its meal. Their thick skin further aids foraging by providing a defense against the bites and stings of the insects they consume.