Aardvarks are one of nature’s most unusual animals — and one of the least likely to show up to a dinner party! That’s because they prefer to dine alone, at night, deep in the African grasslands where they snuffle through the dirt in search of their favorite food: ants and termites.
Despite their pig-like snout, aardvarks aren’t pigs at all. In fact, they’re so unique that they belong to their very own group of animals — there’s nothing else quite like them! Their name comes from Afrikaans and means “earth pig,” a fitting title for a creature that loves to dig. Their strong front legs act like shovels, and they can dig a hole faster than a kid with a sandcastle bucket.
Aardvarks have a super sense of smell, perfect for finding insects underground. When they find a termite mound, they stick out their long, sticky tongue — sometimes up to 12 inches — to scoop up hundreds of bugs in seconds. They don’t have teeth for chewing, but that’s okay; their food is mostly soft and squishy!
During the day, aardvarks hide out in underground burrows to stay cool and safe. At night, they come out to explore, making them nocturnal — animals that sleep during the day and stay active after dark.
Though aardvarks are shy and hard to spot in the wild, some lucky zoo visitors get to see them up close. Many zoos help teach visitors about aardvarks’ special role in the ecosystem and how we can protect their wild homes.
