Aardwolf
Sign in to saveThe aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) is an insectivorous hyaenid species, native to East and Southern Africa. Its name means 'earth-wolf' in Afrikaans and Dutch. It is also called the maanhaar-jackal (Afrikaans for 'mane-jackal'), termite-eating hyena and civet hyena, based on its habit of secreting substances from its anal gland, a characteristic shared with the African civet.
AI overview
The aardwolf is a small, insect-eating member of the hyena family found in East and Southern Africa, known for its distinctive habit of eating termites and secreting scent-marking substances from its anal glands. It matters as a unique African predator that fills an ecological niche different from its larger hyena relatives, helping to control termite populations in its native habitats.
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Article
15 sectionsContents
- Taxonomy
- Etymology
- Description
- Distribution and habitat
- Behavior and ecology
- Feeding
- Breeding
- Conservation
- In captivity
- Notes
- References
- Footnotes
- Sources cited
- Further reading
- External links
The aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) is an insectivorous hyaenid species, native to East and Southern Africa. Its name means 'earth-wolf' in Afrikaans and Dutch. It is also called the maanhaar-jackal (Afrikaans for 'mane-jackal'), termite-eating hyena and civet hyena, based on its habit of secreting substances from its anal gland, a characteristic shared with the African civet.
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 300,000 termites during a single night using its long, sticky tongue. The aardwolf's tongue has adapted to be tough enough to withstand the strong bite of termites.