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Aardvark

Aardvark, Africa, up to 1.3 m (4.3 ft) longAardvarkAardvark, Africa, up to 1.3 m (4.3 ft) longThe aardvark is a secretive animal. Living on the grasslands and open woodlands of Sub-Saharan Africa, it forages alone at night for food, using its keen senses of smell and hearing to seek out ants or termites. If threatened, the aardvark will dig itself into a burrow at top speed, using the large, shovel-like nail, halfway between a claw and a hoof, on each of its toes. The nails are also handy for breaking open ant or termite nests. Using its long, sticky tongue, it can lick up as many as 50,000 of them in a single night.

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Consultant: Chris Jarvis

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Mammals

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Aardvark

An aardvark may dig out its burrow about 13 m (more than 40 ft) deep into the ground.