The Aardwolf
- Afrikaans for "Earth Wolf"
Scientific name: Proteles cristatus
Weight: 8 - 14 Kgs - about the same size as a fox.
A close relative of the Hyaena, the Aardwolf is yellowish in colour with
vertical black stripes, a bushy, black-tipped tail, and it bears a
long, coarse mane of erectile hairs along the length of its back.
They can be found in arid grasslands or dry savannahs in north eastern or
southern Africa. There are two geographically separate populations, one centered
in South Africa and the other extending from central Tanzania northward
to southern Egypt.
Aardwolf's live single or in monogamous pairs and may forage alone or in
small packs. They're nocturnal and live in burrows where the female also
has her litter of 2 - 4 cubs. Cubs are never left alone. If one parent
goes out to forage the other will stay behind to protect the young.
The Aardwolf's feeds largely on termites, particularly on the species Trinervitermes trinervoides (harvester termites) which it detects with
its sensitive ears. Using it's broad and sticky tongue a single Aardwolf,
can in one night, consume as many as 200 000 termites. The Aardwolf cubs
get fed on regurgitated termites. Occasionally they will eat other
insects, birds, mice or carrion.
The Aardwolf is harmless and shy, but when attacked, as by dogs, it
emits a musky-smelling fluid and may fight. Its life span is fourteen
years in captivity. World wide, less than 50 of these shy animals are
held captive.
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