327830Orycteropus aferLeast Concern (LC)<i>Orycteropus afer</i> (Pallas, 1766)afErdvarkbnআর্ডভার্কbrHoc'h-douarcsHrabáčdeErdferkelelΟρυκτερόπουςenAardvarkeoOrikteropoetTuhnikfiMaasikafrOryctéropefrOryctérope du CapgdAardvarkheשנבובhuFöldimalacioOrikteropoisJarðsvínitOrycteropus aferko땅돼지liEerdverkenlAardvarkennlArdvarkennoJordsvinplMrównikruТрубкозубswMhangatrYerdomuzuNowak, R. M. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.12359112359326226false1Shoshani, J, Goldman, C. A. and Thewissen, J. G. M. 1988. Orycteropus afer. Mammalian Species Account No. 300. American Society of Mammalogists, 8 pp.12360112360326226false1Knoethig, J. 2005. "Biology of the Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)" (On-line). Accessed February 11, 2006 at http://www.tierseiten.com/roehrenzaehner/aardvark.pdf .12361112361326226false1Nowak, R. M. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.123591123591076161false1Shoshani, J, Goldman, C. A. and Thewissen, J. G. M. 1988. Orycteropus afer. Mammalian Species Account No. 300. American Society of Mammalogists, 8 pp.123601123601076161false1Knoethig, J. 2005. "Biology of the Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)" (On-line). Accessed February 11, 2006 at http://www.tierseiten.com/roehrenzaehner/aardvark.pdf .123611123611076161false1Nowak, R. M. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.123591123591139999false1Shoshani, J, Goldman, C. A. and Thewissen, J. G. M. 1988. Orycteropus afer. Mammalian Species Account No. 300. American Society of Mammalogists, 8 pp.123601123601139999false1Knoethig, J. 2005. "Biology of the Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)" (On-line). Accessed February 11, 2006 at http://www.tierseiten.com/roehrenzaehner/aardvark.pdf .123611123611139999false11. IUCN Red List (June, 2008) <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org">http://www.iucnredlist.org</a>68617516861751420337false15. Nowak, R.M. (1999) <i>Walker's Mammals of the World</i>. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.69013716901371420337false13. Macdonald, D.W. (2006) <i>The Encyclopedia of Mammals</i>. Oxford University Press, Oxford.69031716903171420337false12. Shoshani, J., Goldman, C.A. and Thewissen, J.G.M. (1988) <i>Orycteropus afer</i>. <i>Mammalian Species</i>, <b>300</b>: 1 - 8.69215616921561420337false14. CITES Species Identification Manual (July, 2008) <a href="http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php">http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php</a>69215716921571420337false16. Whittington-Jones, G.M. (2006) <i>The role of aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) as ecosystem engineers in arid and semi-arid landscapes of South Africa</i>. Thesis, Rhodes University.69215816921581420337false11. IUCN Red List (June, 2008) <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org">http://www.iucnredlist.org</a>68617516861752375471false15. Nowak, R.M. (1999) <i>Walker's Mammals of the World</i>. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.69013716901372375471false13. Macdonald, D.W. (2006) <i>The Encyclopedia of Mammals</i>. Oxford University Press, Oxford.69031716903172375471false12. Shoshani, J., Goldman, C.A. and Thewissen, J.G.M. (1988) <i>Orycteropus afer</i>. <i>Mammalian Species</i>, <b>300</b>: 1 - 8.69215616921562375471false14. CITES Species Identification Manual (July, 2008) <a href="http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php">http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php</a>69215716921572375471false16. Whittington-Jones, G.M. (2006) <i>The role of aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) as ecosystem engineers in arid and semi-arid landscapes of South Africa</i>. Thesis, Rhodes University.69215816921582375471false11. IUCN Red List (June, 2008) <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org">http://www.iucnredlist.org</a>68617516861752453524false15. Nowak, R.M. (1999) <i>Walker's Mammals of the World</i>. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.69013716901372453524false13. Macdonald, D.W. (2006) <i>The Encyclopedia of Mammals</i>. Oxford University Press, Oxford.69031716903172453524false12. Shoshani, J., Goldman, C.A. and Thewissen, J.G.M. (1988) <i>Orycteropus afer</i>. <i>Mammalian Species</i>, <b>300</b>: 1 - 8.69215616921562453524false14. CITES Species Identification Manual (July, 2008) <a href="http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php">http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php</a>69215716921572453524false16. Whittington-Jones, G.M. (2006) <i>The role of aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) as ecosystem engineers in arid and semi-arid landscapes of South Africa</i>. Thesis, Rhodes University.69215816921582453524false11. IUCN Red List (June, 2008) <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org">http://www.iucnredlist.org</a>68617516861752750076false15. Nowak, R.M. (1999) <i>Walker's Mammals of the World</i>. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.69013716901372750076false13. Macdonald, D.W. (2006) <i>The Encyclopedia of Mammals</i>. Oxford University Press, Oxford.69031716903172750076false12. Shoshani, J., Goldman, C.A. and Thewissen, J.G.M. (1988) <i>Orycteropus afer</i>. <i>Mammalian Species</i>, <b>300</b>: 1 - 8.69215616921562750076false14. CITES Species Identification Manual (July, 2008) <a href="http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php">http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php</a>69215716921572750076false16. Whittington-Jones, G.M. (2006) <i>The role of aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) as ecosystem engineers in arid and semi-arid landscapes of South Africa</i>. Thesis, Rhodes University.69215816921582750076false11. IUCN Red List (June, 2008) <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org">http://www.iucnredlist.org</a>68617516861752890860false15. Nowak, R.M. (1999) <i>Walker's Mammals of the World</i>. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.69013716901372890860false13. Macdonald, D.W. (2006) <i>The Encyclopedia of Mammals</i>. Oxford University Press, Oxford.69031716903172890860false12. Shoshani, J., Goldman, C.A. and Thewissen, J.G.M. (1988) <i>Orycteropus afer</i>. <i>Mammalian Species</i>, <b>300</b>: 1 - 8.69215616921562890860false14. CITES Species Identification Manual (July, 2008) <a href="http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php">http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php</a>69215716921572890860false16. Whittington-Jones, G.M. (2006) <i>The role of aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) as ecosystem engineers in arid and semi-arid landscapes of South Africa</i>. Thesis, Rhodes University.69215816921582890860false11. IUCN Red List (June, 2008) <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org">http://www.iucnredlist.org</a>68617516861753240524false15. Nowak, R.M. (1999) <i>Walker's Mammals of the World</i>. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.69013716901373240524false13. Macdonald, D.W. (2006) <i>The Encyclopedia of Mammals</i>. Oxford University Press, Oxford.69031716903173240524false12. Shoshani, J., Goldman, C.A. and Thewissen, J.G.M. (1988) <i>Orycteropus afer</i>. <i>Mammalian Species</i>, <b>300</b>: 1 - 8.69215616921563240524false14. CITES Species Identification Manual (July, 2008) <a href="http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php">http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php</a>69215716921573240524false16. Whittington-Jones, G.M. (2006) <i>The role of aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) as ecosystem engineers in arid and semi-arid landscapes of South Africa</i>. Thesis, Rhodes University.69215816921583240524false11. IUCN Red List (June, 2008) <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org">http://www.iucnredlist.org</a>68617516861753653341false15. Nowak, R.M. (1999) <i>Walker's Mammals of the World</i>. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.69013716901373653341false13. Macdonald, D.W. (2006) <i>The Encyclopedia of Mammals</i>. Oxford University Press, Oxford.69031716903173653341false12. Shoshani, J., Goldman, C.A. and Thewissen, J.G.M. (1988) <i>Orycteropus afer</i>. <i>Mammalian Species</i>, <b>300</b>: 1 - 8.69215616921563653341false14. CITES Species Identification Manual (July, 2008) <a href="http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php">http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php</a>69215716921573653341false16. Whittington-Jones, G.M. (2006) <i>The role of aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) as ecosystem engineers in arid and semi-arid landscapes of South Africa</i>. Thesis, Rhodes University.69215816921583653341false11. IUCN Red List (June, 2008) <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org">http://www.iucnredlist.org</a>68617516861754023834false15. Nowak, R.M. (1999) <i>Walker's Mammals of the World</i>. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.69013716901374023834false13. Macdonald, D.W. (2006) <i>The Encyclopedia of Mammals</i>. Oxford University Press, Oxford.69031716903174023834false12. Shoshani, J., Goldman, C.A. and Thewissen, J.G.M. (1988) <i>Orycteropus afer</i>. <i>Mammalian Species</i>, <b>300</b>: 1 - 8.69215616921564023834false14. CITES Species Identification Manual (July, 2008) <a href="http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php">http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ID/index.php</a>69215716921574023834false16. Whittington-Jones, G.M. (2006) <i>The role of aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) as ecosystem engineers in arid and semi-arid landscapes of South Africa</i>. Thesis, Rhodes University.69215816921584023834false1Richard Weigl (2005) Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; from the Living Collections of the World. Kleine Senckenberg-Reihe 48: Stuttgart.73092417309242392299false1The elusive aardvark is primarily a nocturnal animal (1), spending the day curled up in its burrow asleep (5). However, it can occasionally be spotted venturing outside in the daylight on a cold afternoon (1), or early in the morning when it may sun itself by the burrow's entrance (5). At night the aardvark leaves the safety of its burrow and begins its search for food (5). It feeds almost exclusively on a smorgasbord of ant and termite species (3), and will forage for its meal by travelling in a zigzag path, inspecting a strip of ground about 30 metres wide with its snout (5). The aardvark tends to walk on its claws, somewhat slowly and awkwardly, and on soft ground its dragging tail leaves a trail behind (5).</p><p>Once the aardvark has located its food, either after digging into the ground, tearing into a termite nest, or finding an army of ants on the march (5), the aardvark gathers its prey with its long, sticky tongue, which can extend to a remarkable 30 centimetres (5). It does not chew its insect prey, of which it can eat over 50,000 each night, but instead swallows it whole and grinds it up in a muscular area of its lower stomach (3).</p><p>Digging is a central feature of the aardvark's life, and an activity that it is incredibly adept at. Not only does it dig shallow holes in search of food, it also digs burrows, measuring up to three metres long (5), for daytime rest and to escape predators (1), and also excavates extensive tunnel systems in which it gives birth to its young. These may be up to 13 metres long, with numerous chambers and multiple entrances (5). Its powerful limbs and sharp, spoon-shaped claws make easy work of digging (3), even in hard, stone-baked ground, and it can dig a hole faster than several men with shovels (5). The burrows of the aardvark are used by numerous other African animals, from invertebrates to mammals, making the aardvark an important species in the ecosystems in which it is found (1).</p><p>The aardvark is a largely solitary animal and is only occasionally seen in the company of other individuals (1), presumably for mating and when a young accompanies its mother (5). The gestation period in this species lasts for between seven and nine months, resulting in the birth of a single, naked, flesh-coloured young. The young aardvark will remain in the burrow for about two weeks before starting to accompany its mother on night time foraging trips. By the age of six months, the young can dig for itself, and by 12 months it has reached the size of an adult. Sexual maturity is obtained at about two years of age (5).6f2f9dad6b1a14352d71fa59296227e12608275WildscreenCopyright Wildscreen 2003-2008ARKiveCopyrightCopyright Wildscreen 2003-2008. Some rights reservedhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/SupplierARKivehttp://www.arkive.org/5978arkiveLocationSource URLView original data objecthttp://www.arkive.org/aardvark/orycteropus-afer/CitationEnglishcc-by-nc-sa 3.0Texthttp://content2.eol.org/content_large.jpghttp://content3.eol.org/content_medium.jpghttp://content4.eol.org/content_small.jpg13290301302267232704204129783328662512953009717226298227131AnimaliaNOT EVALUATEDAnimalia694ChordataNOT EVALUATEDChordata1642MammaliaNOT EVALUATEDMammalia8716TubulidentataNOT EVALUATEDTubulidentata8717OrycteropodidaeNOT EVALUATEDOrycteropodidae14875OrycteropusNOT EVALUATEDOrycteropus327830Orycteropus aferLeast Concern (LC)<i>Orycteropus afer</i> (Pallas, 1766)1226262Orycteropus afer adametziNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer adametzi</i> Grote, 19211240104Orycteropus afer wertheriNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer wertheri</i> Matschie, 18981240105Orycteropus afer wardiNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer wardi</i> Lydekker, 19081240106Orycteropus afer somalicusNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer somalicus</i> Lydekker, 19081240107Orycteropus afer senegalensisNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer senegalensis</i> Lesson, 18401240108Orycteropus afer ruvanensisNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer ruvanensis</i> Grote, 19211240109Orycteropus afer observandusNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer observandus</i> Grote, 19211240110Orycteropus afer matschieiNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer matschiei</i> Grote, 19211240111Orycteropus afer leptodonNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer leptodon</i> Hirst, 19061240112Orycteropus afer lademanniNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer lademanni</i> Grote, 19111240113Orycteropus afer kordofanicusNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer kordofanicus</i> Rothschild, 19271240114Orycteropus afer haussanusNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer haussanus</i> Matschie, 19001240115Orycteropus afer faradjiusNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer faradjius</i> Hatt, 19321240116Orycteropus afer erikssoniNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer erikssoni</i> Lönnberg, 19061240117Orycteropus afer angolensisNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer angolensis</i> Zukowsky and Haltenorth, 19571240118Orycteropus afer aferNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus <i>afer</i> afer</i> (Pallas, 1766)1273783Orycteropus afer aethiopicusNOT EVALUATED<i>Orycteropus afer aethiopicus</i> Sundevall, 1843Portland State University, MA Education
7klansBA Physics - Johns Hopkins University
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10peterPh.D., University of Bristol (1976)
D.Sc., Queen's University, Belfast (1990)
11paddydeveloper13pleary11793wilsondAsst. Project Manager, Antarctic Invertebrates, Smithsonian Institution
Visiting Scientist, Chemicals Affecting Insect Behavior Lab, US Agricultural Research Service, 2005-2006
Hammock, J., Vinyard, B., Dickens, J. 2007. Response to host plant odors and aggregation pheromone by larvae of the Colorado potato beetle on a servosphere. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, 1(1):27-35
PhD, Biological Oceanography, Massachussetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceangraphic Institution, 200520470jhammockUniversity of Michigan, PhD 1997
Thesis: Social behavior and vocal communication of American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
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Yahnke CJ, 2006. Habitat use and natural history of small mammals in the Paraguayan chaco. Mastozoologia Neotropical, 13(1);103-116.
Yahnke CJ, 2006. Testing optimal foraging theory using bird predation on goldenrod galls. American Biology Teacher, 68(8):471-475.
Yahnke CJ, PL Meserve, TG Ksiazek, and JN Mills. 2001. Patterns of infection with Laguna Negra virus in wild populations of Calomys laucha in the central Paraguayan chaco. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 65(6):768-776.
Yahnke CJ, I Gamarra de Fox, and F Colman. 1998. Mammalian species richness in Paraguay: the effectiveness of national parks in preserving biodiversity. Biological Conservation 84:263-268.
Yahnke CJ, J Unger, BA Lohr, DA Meritt, and W Heuschele. 1997. Age specific fecundity, litter size, and sex ratio in the chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri). Zoo Biology 16:301-307.
Yahnke, CJ, WE Johnson, E Geffen, D Smith, F Hertel, MS Roy, CF Bonacic, TK Fuller, B Van Valkenburgh, and RK Wayne. 1996. Darwin’s fox: a distinct endangered species in a vanishing habitat. Conservation Biology 10:366-375.
Yahnke CJ. 1995. Metachromism and the insight of Wilfred Osgood: evidence of common ancestry for Darwin’s fox and the Sechura fox. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 68:459-467
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Hudson, Anne V. and Reynolds, Julian D. (1984). Distribution of Irish intertidal Talitridae. Bulletin of the Irish biogeographical Society, 8, 63-76.
Reynolds, Julian D. (1976). Occurrence of the fresh-water Bryozoan, Cristatella mucedo Cuvier, in British Columbia. Syesis, 9, 365-366.
Smyth, Thomas and Reynolds, Julian D. (1995). Survival ability of statoblasts of freshwater Bryozoa found in Renvyle Lough, County Galway. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 95B (1), 65-68.
Wickenberg, Maria and Reynolds, Julian D. (2002). A recent Irish record of the woodlouse Acaeroplastes melanurus (Budde-Lund, 1885) (Isopoda: Porcellionidae), considered to be extinct in the British Isles. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society, 26, 60-63.39544jrynoldsAffiliated with EOL Species Pages Group39552lshapiroStaff in a natural history museum
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