Aardvark
Aardvarks live throughout Africa, south of the Sahara.
Their name comes from South Africa’s Afrikaans language and means “earth pig.”
A glimpse of the aardvark’s body and long snout brings the pig to mind. Its body is stout with a prominently arched back and is sparsely covered with coarse hairs.
On closer inspection, the aardvark appears to include other animal features as well. It boasts rabbitlike ears and a kangaroo tail—yet the aardvark is related to none of these animals.
Aardvarks are nocturnal. They spend the hot African afternoon holed up in cool underground burrows dug with their powerful feet and claws that resemble small spades. After sunset, aardvarks put those claws to good use in acquiring their favorite food—termites.
The aardvark is sometimes colloquially called “African ant bear” may travel several miles a night in search of large, earthen termite mounds.
Female aardvarks typically give birth to one newborn each year. The young remain with their mother for about six months before moving out and digging their own burrows.
Source: www.nationalgeographic.com
Image Credit: www.commons.wikimedia.org / kids.nationalgeographic.com
