Aardvark
Orycteropus afer
A shy, pig-sized African mammal with a long snout and sticky tongue that digs into ant and termite nests at night.
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About the Aardvark
Aardvarks live in grasslands and savannas across sub-Saharan Africa. They are about the size of a small pig, 3.3 to 5.2 feet long, and weigh 88 to 180 pounds. They have thick skin, a long nose, a squarish head and muscular legs with thick claws. At night they walk 1 to 3 miles looking for ants and termites, then dig into the nests and sweep up insects with a long, sticky tongue.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Orycteropus afer[1]
- Size
- 3.3 to 5.2 feet long.[1]
- Weight
- 88 to 180 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- Up to 18 years in the wild.[1]
- Diet
- Mostly ants, plus termites.[1]
- Habitat
- Grassland and savanna with many ants and termites.[1]
- Where it lives
- Sub-Saharan Africa, except the western and central rainforests.[1]
- Group life
- Solitary and nocturnal.[1]
- Babies
- Usually one baby after about seven months.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2014).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- myrmecophagous
- Eating mostly ants and termites.
- burrow
- A hole or tunnel dug in the ground by an animal.
- termite
- A small insect that lives in large colonies and eats wood.
- nocturnal
- Active mainly at night.
- least concern
- A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.
See it in person
- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and AquariumOmaha, Nebraska · Mahoney Kingdoms of the NightSee this area on the zoo's website ↗
Sources
- [1] Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan. “Aardvark (Orycteropus afer).” https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Orycteropus_afer/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Orycteropus afer (Aardvark).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41504/21286437 (accessed 2026-10-02)
Facts last checked 2026-10-02.