The Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) is a small mammal related to the Hyena, native to southern Africa. The name means "earth wolf" in Afrikaans.

There are two subspecies:

• Proteles cristatus cristatus (Southern Africa)
• Proteles cristatus septentrionalis (East Africa)

The Aardwolf looks most like the Striped Hyena [1] but smaller with a more pointed muzzle, sharper ears, vertical stripes, and a long mane down the middle line of the neck and back. It stands about 50cm at the shoulder, weighs around 9kg, and has two glands at the rear that secrete a musky fluid for marking territory and communicating with other aardwolves.

The Aardwolf is nocturnal and burrows in the ground living primarily on termites in the genus Trinervitermes but will also feed on termites in the genera Odontotermes , Macrotermes , and Hodotermes . Unlike other large insect eating mammals such as Aardvarks and anteaters, Aardwolves cannot dig and so must wait outside the termite mound to lick up the termites as they emerge. An Aardwolf can consume over 30,000 termites in a single day.

Other common names are: Ant Bear, African Ant Bear, Anteater, Earth Pig, Cape Anteater, Tamanoir.

External links

• Animal Diversity Web