AARDWOLF - Definition & Meaning for Kids

📖 Fun Facts About Aardwolf

• • They are not related to the aardvarks, or wolves!. Despite the name and similar diet of termites, they are not related to aardvarks or indeed wolves – and as already described, are actually a member of the hyena family.
• • Aardwolves can eat up to 300,000 termites in a single night. They can produce twice the amount of saliva that a dog of a similar size can, making them very efficient termite hunters.
• • They can make themselves appear 70% bigger!. When threatened or cornered, the Aardwolf raises its body high off the ground, its mane and tail bristling so that its silhouette makes it appear up to 70% bigger.
• • Aardwolf can emit a foul-smelling liquid from its anal glands to ward off predators. The musky pungent fluid can be enough to scare off a predator, such as a dog.
• • They are specialized to forage for termites. Though termites may be abundant in an Aardwolf’s territory, finding them can be difficult. Aardwolves struggle to forage in the rain as they are unable to hear the sounds the termites produce.
• • 50% of their dung includes sand. They have a wide spoon-like tongue, which means they swallow a lot of sand when eating termites, and subsequently this can be seen in their poop!
• • Aardwolves are more closely related to felines. Despite somewhat resembling a dog-come-fox, the Aardwolf is actually more closely related to cats.
• • They like to leave their scent. Aardwolves are prolific scent-markers, leaving scent trails through their various trails in their territory.
• • Aardwolf are shy. Aardwolves are very shy and secretive and do not do well in captivity.
• • They live in multiple burrows. Aardwolves can have up to 10 burrows in a single territory.
• • They have an efficient ‘gait’. Much like the other Hyenas, Aardwolves have an unusual walking style. This gait allows them to conserve energy when travelling longer distances.
• • They rarely need to drink water. Even though they are found in some of the drier savannah areas, Aardwolves rarely drink water.
• • Aardwolves are now considered friends of farmers. Aardwolves have historically been shot and killed by farmers. This was the result of a common misconception that Aardwolves preyed on livestock.
• • The aardwolf (alphabetically the second creature) are a monogamous species of hyena that mostly eats termites with their long sticky tongue. They will raise their cubs for up to a year as a pair, with the male watching the child for up to 6 hours a night while their mother finds food
• • The aardwolf has five toes on its front paws