Fast Facts About Aardvarks
Orycteropus afer

© Nigel Dennis

Size
1.5 - 1.7 m long (tail 50 cm)
0.4 m shoulder height (50 cm at the highest point)
Weight
40 - 60 kg
Lifespan
About 20 years
Habitat
Broad habitat tolerance - open woodland or grassland, also in rain forest in central Africa and in arid zones. Needs sufficient termites for food and prefer sandy areas where digging is easier but do make use of other habitats too.
ENDEMIC TO AFRICA
Gestation
7 months
Number of young
1
Food
Ants and termites
Predators
Lion, hyena, leopard, python and humans

By Megan Emmett