What are Aardvarks?
Aardvarks, the peculiar mammal from Africa, use chiseling claws and a sticky tongue to prey on termites. They occupy a unique order and species because they have strange teeth made of dentine, instead of enamel. As a prehistoric remnant, aardvarks are often incorrectly mistaken as anteaters. You’d recognize aardvarks by their tough, grayish-brown skin with bristly hair and long, skinny snout. They also have rabbit-like rear legs used to hop more than walk, and agile front legs outfitted with specialized claws that dig burrows and disturb termite mounds. Their long, rodent-like tail that stretches to one third of their total length, helps clear dirt and balance the animal while hopping, like a kangaroo. Donkey ears, upright and large, allow them to hear the scratching of insect feet. With this mishmash of different animal’s features, it’s no wonder that the Boers of South Africa named the aardvark “earth pig” in Afrikaans.
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