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Fast Facts:

  • The term Aardwolf means "earth wolf".

  • Can eat up to 200,000 termites in one night licking them up off the surface.

  • The acute hearing allows the Aardwolf to track the sound of termites.

  • The aardwolf can be seen in the Wildlife Museum's African Dry River Bed exhibit.

Aardwolf

Scientific Name: Proteles cristatus
Classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora
Status: Considered rare in some places due to being hunted for food and its skin
Range: Southern and Eastern parts of Africa
Habitat: Open plains and bush country
Diet: Termites and insect larvae
Size: Length: 1.5 - 2.5 feet plus a 1 foot tail Height: 1.5 feet
Weight: 18 - 26 lbs
Lifespan: 15 years in captivity
Location:
Print Fact Sheet Aardwolf

Special Features:

The Aardwolf lives in dens about six weeks before moving to the next den to avoid detection by predators.

Although it has the ability to burrow its own den, the Aardwolf prefers to enlarge an abandoned den.

Nocturnal & Solitary

If threatened, the Aardwolf will spray its attacker with a strong musky fluid secreted by the anal gland. This same musky odor is used to mark its territory


Social Structure & Behavior:

Breeding/Care of Young:
Sexual maturity at 2 years old, Gestation is 60 days, Usually 2-3 cubs, but can be up to 5. Most females mate with the male in their territory, but they may also breed with intruders. Cubs stay in den for up to 2 months. Although cubs are self-sufficient at 4 months, they will stay with the mother until the next breeding season

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