Aardvark
Orycteropus afer
Classifacation
- Domain Eukarya: This domain is made up of organisms that are either single-cell or muti-cellular with a nucleolus in each cell.
- Kingdom Animailia: This kingdom is made up of organisms that get there energy from eating other organisms, which makes them hedoratrophic creatures. They are multi-cellular, have complex bodies, and are capable of movement and reproduction.
- Phylum Chordata: This group of organisms have bilateral symmetry, a notochord (stiff rod that extends for the length of the body), and a complete digestive system.
- Subphylum Vertebrata: This group contains organisms that have a backbone, as well as arms and legs. They have an endoskeleton, which means they have a skeleton on the inside of their body, and they have muscles attached so they can move.
- Class Mammalia: This group contains organisms that all have hair at some point in their lives with no exceptions, and have various types of teeth. The have the ability to produce milk for their young. They also have at least one protective layer on the exterior of their body.
- Order Tubulidentata: This group only consists of the aardvark.
- Family Orycteropodidae: This group only contains the aardvark.
- Genus Orycteropus: This genus only includes the aardvark.
- Species: Orycteropus afer
General Description
- Length: The average length of an aardvark is 3-4 feet long.
- Weight: The average weight of an Aardvark is 90-140 pounds.
- Color: The aardvark has a yellowish gray color.
- Natural Range: The aardvark lives in the sub-Saharan area of Africa.
- Diet: Aardvarks eat termites, ants, and some fruits.
- Habitat Description: The aardvark's habitat is a large grassland savanna with little flooding and an ample food supply.
- Predators: The predators of the aardvark include humans, lions, hyenas, and leopards.
Holey Escape Plan
Crazy Tongue
Home
Physical Adaptions
Behavioral Adaptations
References
Aardvark. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.czs.org/Brookfield-ZOO/Zoo-Animals/Habitat-Africa!-The-Savannah/Aardvark.aspx
An aardvark. they are still found widely in africa and are not an endangered species. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.willemsplanet.com/2013/04/22/monday-an-aardvark-for-earth-day/
Aardvark tongue2. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://pixgood.com/aardvark-tongue.html
annual rainfall. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.catsg.org/cheetah/07_map-centre/7_1_entire-range/thematic-maps/annual_rainfall_Africa.gif
Average temperature in sub-saharan africa. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/revealingmodernityinafrica/averagetemperatureinssafrica
Burton, M., & Burton, R. (2002). Aardvark. In International wildlife encyclopedia v.1 (AAR-BAR) (3rd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 16-17). New York, NY: Marshall Cavendish
The life and times of the last earthpig. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://questionableevolution.com/2013/02/06/the-life-and-times-of-the-last-earthpig
Ratzloff, E. 2011. "Orycteropus afer" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 12, 2015 at http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Orycteropus_afer/