 Explore our wide variety of animal facts and learn some fun trivia about our friends in the animal kingdom.
 Fun Aardvark Facts for Kids
Check out our range of fun aardvark facts for kids. Learn what their name means, what they eat, where they live and much more. Read on and enjoy a variety of interesting information about aardvarks. | | |
- The aardvark is a unique mammal native to Africa, found in the bottom two-thirds of the continent.
- They have long snouts, which are used to find food such as termites and ants.
- The origin of the name aardvark comes from the Afrikaans word “erdvark” meaning “earth pig”. Despite the vague resemblance to pigs (and both having snouts), they are not closely related.
- They are also known as the “African ant bear”.
- Aardvarks share similarities with anteaters but it is believed the two mammals evolved these characteristics independently in different parts of the world.
- Aardvarks are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night and sleep during the day.
- Aardvarks have strong legs with sharp claws, which help them dig out food and create burrows to live in.
- The burrows they dig help keep them cool during the hot daylight hours. They occasionally move home, allowing other animals such as hyenas, hares and mongooses to move into the empty burrows.
- Their rear feet have 5 toes, while their front feet have just 4.
- Aardvarks typically weigh around 70 kg (150 lb).
- They grow to around 120 cm in length (4 ft), double that if you include their tail.
- They have tough skin, which acts as protection from predators such as lions and cheetahs. It also helps when being stung or bitten by the ants and termites they eat.
- Aardvarks have long, sticky tongues that help them consume large numbers of insects at a time.
- The F-111 Aardvark combat aircraft was named after the animal due to its long nose and night missions flown close to the ground.
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