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- Orycteropus afer Pallas, 1766
Orycteropus afer Pallas, 1766
Order: Tubulidentata > Family: Orycteropodidae > Genus: Orycteropus > Species: Orycteropus afer Pallas, 1766
Common Name: Aardvark [English]
Type Description
Misc. Zool., p. 64
Type Locality
South Africa, Western Cape Prov., Cape of Good Hope.
Measurements
Total length: 1610-2000 mm
Head and body: 1000-1580 mm
Tail length: 445-610 mm
Ear length: 150-210 mm
Weight: 50-82 kg
Head and body: 1000-1580 mm
Tail length: 445-610 mm
Ear length: 150-210 mm
Weight: 50-82 kg
Description
While the aardvark is pig like in appearance, the long snout with circular nostrils and large tubular ears make it unmistakable. The cheek teeth are unique among mammals in having numerous hexagonal prisms of dentine.
Comparisons
There is nothing like an aardvark!
Distribution
The aardvark is widespread throughout Africa south of the Sahara excluding the equatorial areas from the Cameroons and Gabon to the western Congo and along the western coastline from Namibia to South Africa. This species can be found throughout a variety of vegetation types in areas that are abundant with ants, termites, and beetle larvae. (Kingdon, 1984, 1997)
Key References
1. Kingdon, J. 1984. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1:378-387.
2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 294-295.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2:1048-1049.
4. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.
2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 294-295.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2:1048-1049.
4. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.