7 Fascinating Aardvark Facts You Probably Didn’t Know #facts #Wildlife #mammals

The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a nocturnal mammal endemic to sub‑Saharan Africa, uniquely adapted for myrmecophagy. It locates termite and ant colonies up to 1.5 meters underground using tubular nostrils and an acute sense of smell, then extends its tongue—up to 30 centimeters—coated in sticky saliva to slurp tens of thousands of insects each night. Unlike most mammals, its teeth lack enamel and grow continuously, formed from hexagonal prisms of dentine that wear down against each other as it feeds.

Aardvarks excavate extensive burrow systems—sometimes reaching 13 meters in length—that provide refuge not only for themselves but also for species such as warthogs, porcupines and pythons. After a seven‑month gestation, the female gives birth to a single cub that clings to her back for protection while moving between burrows. To prevent inhaling dirt during rapid digging (up to 10 km/h), it can close both nostrils and ears, making it one of Africa’s most specialized and efficient fossorial mammals.