Aardvarks are the only living member of the order Tubulidentata. Due to their elusive lifestyle, they are also one of the least known of all mammals.

Subspecies
There is debate over whether or not any subspecies exist. Due to insufficient knowledge, it is impossible to reach firm conclusions.

Life span
In captivity, they live for up to 10 years.

Statistics
Head-body length: 105-130cm, tail length: 45-63cm, weight: 40-65kg.

Physical description
Aardvarks have a distinctive curved back, a pig-like body, a long snout, large ears, powerful limbs and shovel-shaped claws for digging. They have bristly, sparse fur tinged with yellow and white. Females tend to be paler than males.

Distribution
They inhabit Africa, south of the Sahara.

Habitat
Aardvarks mainly live in woodland, scrub and grassland. They are sometimes found in rainforest, and are absent from desert regions.

Diet
They feed on ants and termites, and can consume about 50,000 insects in a night! Ants are the preferred prey, but when they become less abundant in the winter, termites are the next best thing. Using their strong front limbs, they break into the insects' nests. They can fold their ears back and they have a profusion of nasal hairs to keep out the dust while they're digging. Although they have poor eyesight, they have acute hearing, and a good sense of smell - which helps them to locate their prey. Most species of ants and termites are lapped up by the tongue and swallowed whole, but one species of ant is chewed up first. They lack incisor and canine teeth.

Behaviour
Aardvarks are nocturnal and solitary. They excavate burrows up to 10m long around their home range of 2-5 square km. Three types of burrow are created: those dug when looking for food; temporary sites scatterered around the home range and used for refuge; and permanent burrows used by females for giving birth. Only mothers and their young share burrows.

Reproduction
They give birth to a single young after a gestation period of 7 months. The young weigh about 2kg at birth. It ventures out of the burrow at about 2 weeks of age but will stay with its mother for at least 6 months.

Conservation status
Aardvarks are not considered to be threatened.