Introduction:

Aardwolves (Proteles cristata) got their name because they live in underground burrows. Aardwolf means earth wolf in Afrikaans, the language used in South Africa.

Geographic Range:

Aardwolves are found in two distinct populations in Eastern and Southern Africa, and nowhere else in the world.

Habitat:

Aardwolves are typically found in grasslands, scrub lands, the savanna, and rocky regions, wherever termites are found.

Physical Description:

Aardwolves are sometimes mistaken for hyenas but they are smaller. They also resemble and move in a fashion similar to dogs. Their coats range from yellow to dark brown and they have several dark, vertical stripes on their body and legs. They have a mane that starts at the back of their neck and goes to their tail. Their front feet have five toes but their back feet only have four. They are usually 36 inches long, not including their tails, which add between 8 and 12 inches. They typically weigh between 50 and 60 pounds.

Diet:

They are considered to be partial carnivores because their diet consists of insects, mostly termites. In fact a single Aardwolf can consume from between 200,000 and 300,000 termites in one day. Termites typically live in long tunnels in the earth, Aardwolves have long, sticky tongues that they can stick into these tunnels and then scoop up all the termites in one go. They also have big ears which give them extremely good hearing so they can hear the termites from under the ground.

Behavior:

Aardwolves are nocturnal animals. They are also solitary and shy and tend to only form groups for breeding. Due to their illusive lifestyles not much is known about their habits but they are known to emit a strong, skunk-like odor when threatened or scared so they definitely would not make good house pets. They use this fluid to mark their territory as well as a defense mechanism.

Reproduction:

The gestation period is between 90 and 100 days and females tend to give birth once a year. It is unknown if there is a set breeding season, it is assumed they breed year round. The typical litter is between two and four cubs but it is possible to only have a litter consisting of between one to six cubs. Cubs are born blind and are helpless. They rely on their parents for the first 16-20 weeks of their life and are raised by both parents during this time. At approximately three months of age the cubs start foraging for food for themselves with one of their parents. At four months old they are able to forage for themselves alone.

Lifespan:

Aardwolves reach sexual maturity when they are two years old, and live for approximately 10 years in the wild, but can live up to 14 in captivity.

Conservation Status:

Aardwolves are not considered endangered but have sometimes been falsely accused of killing sheep, and often killed by cars. They are also killed for their fur and meat. The largest threat is the chemicals used for the control of locusts. It is estimated that for every single animal that is targeted by poisons, 100 – 300 other animals are killed. Aardwolves are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.