Aardwolf, (Proteles cristatus), insectivorous carnivore that resembles a small striped hyena. The shy, mainly nocturnal aardwolf lives on the arid plains of Africa.
What does an aardwolf eat?
Unlike many of its relatives in the order Carnivora, the aardwolf does not hunt large animals. It eats insects and their larvae, mainly termites ; one aardwolf can lap up as many as 250,000 termites during a single night using its long, sticky tongue.
Does aardwolf eat meat?
Unlike the other hyenas, who eat the meat of vertebrates such as mammals, the aardwolf is primarily insectivorous (i.e. it eats insects).
Is a aardwolf a herbivore carnivore or omnivore?
Aardwolf, (Proteles cristatus), insectivorous carnivore that resembles a small striped hyena. The shy, mainly nocturnal aardwolf lives on the arid plains of Africa.
Is an aardwolf a dog?
Aardwolf is the common name for a small, insectivorous, hyena-like African mammal, Proteles cristatus, characterized by a dog-like appearance , hind limbs shorter than fore limbs, five digits on the forepaws, a mane along the back of the neck that can be held erect, several black stripes on the body and legs, and less ...
What is difference between Aardvark and aardwolf?
is that aardvark is the nocturnal, insectivorous, burrowing, mammal (taxlink), of the order tubulidentata, somewhat resembling a pig, common in some parts of sub-saharan africa {{defdate|first attested in the late 18 th c}} while aardwolf is the nocturnal, insectivorous, mammal, (taxlink), of southern and eastern africa ...
How long does an aardwolf live?
Aardwolf can survive 8 years in the wild and up to 15 years in captivity.
Are Aardwolves wolves?
The aardwolf (Proteles cristata) is not related to aardvarks or wolves — it’s the smallest member of the hyena family. They have long, pointed ears, slender skulls, and long necks.
Why do hyenas laugh?
The “laughter” vocalization for which they are known is a high-pitched series of short gigglelike sounds . These sounds, rather than being associated with hyenas having a good time, are generally made when they are threatened or under attack. A hyena may also produce a laughterlike sound when it is frustrated.
Is the aardwolf endangered?
Is The Aardwolf Endangered? The aardwolf is rated ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN . The species appears to be fairly widespread and is found in numerous protected areas. In the past aardwolves were occasionally persecuted by farmers, who believed that the species posed a threat to their livestock.
What animal is similar to a hyena?
The aardwolf is in the same family as the hyena. Unlike many of its relatives in the order Carnivora, the aardwolf does not hunt large animals.
Is a hyena a k9?
No dogs here ! Hyenas are not members of the dog or cat families. Instead, they are so unique that they have a family all their own, Hyaenidae. There are four members of the Hyaenidae family: the striped hyena, the “giggly” spotted hyena, the brown hyena
What does an aardwolf sound like?
When aardwolves do encounter other animals (including other aardwolves), they will puff up their spiky mane to appear bigger. They will also let out noises that sound like a soft clucking, hoarse barking and a type of roar . Sometimes they will even let out a very stinky smell, like a skunk, to scare enemies away!
Are hyenas only in Africa?
Although hyenas appear similar to dogs, they are actually more closely related to cats. They live throughout much of Africa and eastwards through Arabia to India.
How big is an aardwolf?
The aardwolf, whose name in Afrikaans means “earth wolf,” is yellowish with vertical black stripes and a bushy black-tipped tail. Standing less than half a metre high at the shoulder , it varies in length from 55 to 80 cm (22 to 31 inches) exclusive of the 20- to 30-cm (8- to 12-inch) tail.
