What does aard mean in aardwolf?
aardwolf (n.) also aard-wolf, “small, insectivorous mammal native to East and Southern Africa, related to the hyena,” 1833, from Afrikaans Dutch aardwolf, literally “earth-wolf,” from aard “earth” (see earth (n.)) + wolf “wolf” (see wolf (n.)).
Is there such a thing as an aardwolf?
aardwolf, (Proteles cristatus), insectivorous carnivore that resembles a small striped hyena. The shy, mainly nocturnal aardwolf lives on the arid plains of Africa. There are two geographically separate populations, one centred in South Africa and the other in East Africa.
Does an aardwolf bark?
During aggressive encounters the aardwolf will raise its mane, roar, growl and bark.
What is special about the aardwolf?
Unlike other termite-feeding animals, like the anteater and the aardvark, the aardwolf doesn’t dig up its prey. It lacks the claws needed for digging. Instead, it laps up termites from the ground using its long, sticky tongue. One aardwolf can consume more than 200,000 termites in a single night.
Does aardwolf eat meat?
Contrary to popular myths, aardwolves do not eat carrion, and if they are seen eating while hunched over a dead carcass, they are actually eating larvae and beetles. Also, contrary to some sources, they do not like meat, unless it is finely ground or cooked for them.
Are Aardwolves rare?
Despite the fact that their retiring natures mean that they are seldom seen, aardwolf numbers appear to be relatively stable, at least for now, earning them a conservation status of “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
How fast is an aardwolf?
Their primary source, Trinervitermes, forages in small but dense patches of 25–100 cm (9.8–39.4 in). While foraging, the aardwolf can cover about 1 km (0.62 mi) per hour, which translates to 8–12 km (5.0–7.5 mi) per summer night and 3–8 km (1.9–5.0 mi) per winter night.
Is an aardwolf a wolf?
The aardwolf (Proteles cristata) is an insectivorous mammal in the family Hyaenidae, native to East and Southern Africa. Its name means “earth-wolf” in Afrikaans and Dutch….Aardwolf.
| Aardwolf Temporal range: Pleistocene – Recent | |
|---|---|
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Hyaenidae |
Where does aardwolf live?
southern Africa
Aardwolf occurs throughout eastern and southern Africa, except in the south along the coast. These secretive and entirely harmless carnivores appear to have a wide habitat tolerance with a preference for semi-arid, open plains, savannas, and grasslands where it lives in burrows in the ground.
Is the aardwolf a predator or prey?
The aardwolf’s prey is termites, insect larvae, and eggs of ground nesting birds. It usually eats termites, but occasionally, it will find some carrion that the hyenas have killed, or a small rodent to eat. The aardwolf’s predators are lions, leopards, poisonous snakes, larger hyenas, and humans.
What is an aardwolf in English?
aardwolf in American English (ˈɑːrdˌwulf) nounWord forms: plural -wolves. a striped, hyenalike mammal, Proteles cristatus, of southern and eastern Africa, that feeds chiefly on insects.
How rare is a aardwolf?
The aardwolf has not seen decreasing numbers and is relatively widespread throughout eastern Africa. They are not common throughout their range, as they maintain a density of no more than 1 per square kilometer, if food is abundant. Because of these factors, the IUCN has rated the aardwolf as least concern.
Do Aardwolves only eat termites?
Hyenas hunt both large and small animals and are also scavengers, eating the dead and decaying bodies of other animals. Aardwolves are insectivores, relying on termites for the majority of their diet. They occasionally eat other insects and—according to some researchers—small animals such as mice and birds.
What eats an aardwolf?
It usually eats termites, but occasionally, it will find some carrion that the hyenas have killed, or a small rodent to eat. The aardwolf’s predators are lions, leopards, poisonous snakes, larger hyenas, and humans.
How many aardwolf are in the world?
It eats insects and their larvae, mainly termites; one aardwolf can lap up as many as 250,000 termites during a single night using its long, sticky tongue….Aardwolf.
| Aardwolf Temporal range: Pleistocene – Recent | |
|---|---|
| Family: | Hyaenidae |
| Subfamily: | Protelinae |
| Genus: | Proteles |
| Species: | P. cristata |
Is aardwolf extinct?
Least Concern (Population stable)Aardwolf / Conservation status
Why is it called an aardwolf?
Their name, which means “earth wolf” in Afrikaans, refers to their underground dens and canine-like appearance (though they’re more closely related to cats). Aardwolves are one of four hyena species in the subfamily Hyaenidae, along with spotted hyenas, striped hyenas, and brown hyenas.
What does a aardwolf look like?
The aardwolf resembles a very thin striped hyena, but with a more slender muzzle, black vertical stripes on a coat of yellowish fur, and a long, distinct mane down the midline of the neck and back. It also has one or two diagonal stripes down the fore- and hind-quarters, along with several stripes on its legs.
Where can I see aardwolf?
The beautiful aardwolf is found in the scrubby savannahs of eastern, northeastern and southern Africa. Specifically, one population is found in South Africa and Botswana, and the other (a completely separate population) occupies an area from central Tanzania to the southern part of Egypt.
What kind of sound does an aardwolf make?
Unlike their larger cousins, aardwolves are generally silent unless threatened, producing vocal sounds ranging from a soft clucking sound to a loud roar. Aardwolves can eat up to 300,000 termites in one night! Although their mortality is low, aardwolves’ threats include farmers, vehicles, and even hunting dogs.
What does aardwolf stand for?
It is also called 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.
Where does the aardwolf live?
The aardwolf lives in the shrublands of eastern and southern Africa – open lands covered with stunted trees and shrubs. It is nocturnal, resting in burrows during the day and emerging at night to seek food.
Is the aardwolf a monotypic species?
The aardwolf is the only surviving species in the subfamily Protelinae. There is disagreement as to whether the species is monotypic, or can be divided into subspecies P. c. cristatus of Southern Africa and P. c. septentrionalis of East Africa.