An aardvark standing in a zoo habitat.

Aardvark (*Orycteropus afer*).

Creator: Theo Kruse, Burgers' Zoo

Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

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Species record

Aardvark

Orycteropus afer

Explore the Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

The Aardvark is a nocturnal, termite-eating mammal of African savannas and grasslands, including southern Africa. Its powerful claws open insect nests, while its long sticky tongue collects prey. By consuming ants and termites and digging burrows later used by other animals, it helps shape dryland ecosystems; it is listed as Least Concern.

Classification in this archive

  1. Kingdom: Animals
  2. Phylum: Chordates
  3. Subphylum: Vertebrates
  4. Class: Mammals
  5. Order: Tubulidentata
  6. Family: Orycteropodidae
  7. Genus: Orycteropus
  8. Species: Orycteropus afer

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat
savanna, grassland
Selected regions
Africa
Selected countries
South Africa, Namibia

Conservation status

The Ark records: Least Concern.

Did you know?

  • Aardvarks use powerful claws to open termite and ant nests, then collect insects with a long, sticky tongue.
  • An aardvark's burrow can provide shelter for many other animals after the aardvark moves on.

More images

An aardvark shown in profile.

Aardvark (*Orycteropus afer*) in profile.

Creator: Nasser Halaweh

Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

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An aardvark walking through dry scrub in South Africa.

Aardvark (*Orycteropus afer*) walking through dry scrub.

Creator: Kelly Abram

Licence: CC BY 4.0

View image source

Sources and attribution