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What do aardvarks use their ears for?
They are able to see at night, but otherwise have poor vision and are color-blind. They rely on their senses of sound and smell, using their long ears and snouts to get around and find insects. Female aardvarks give birth in their burrow usually to one baby at a time.
Do aardvarks have good hearing?
Aardvarks have a keen sense of hearing that enables them to detect approaching predators. If they need to escape, they can dig fast or run in zigzags. If not, they can strike with their claws, tail and shoulders, and have been known to flip onto their backs and lash out with all fours.
What sound do aardvarks make?
Vocalization. The aardvark is a rather quiet animal. However, it does make soft grunting sounds as it forages and loud grunts as it makes for its tunnel entrance. It makes a bleating sound if frightened.
How do aardvark defend themselves?
Although aardvark looks like a vulnerable animal, it can defend itself when attacked using its sharp claws and strong feet. Aardvark’s claws are strong as a pickaxe. When disturbed, aardvark squeals like a pig.
How do aardvarks adapt to their environment?
Adaptations: Terrestrial, solitary, nocturnal, large eyes with retina containing only cones. Nostrils close up when the aardvark burrows, providing protection from dust, dirt, and attacks by ants or termites. Powerful claws for digging into ground or termite nests. Acute sense of smell and hearing.
How do aardvarks protect themselves?
Do Aardvarks have a sense of smell?
They have poor eyesight but a phenomenally keen sense of smell. In fact, aardvarks have the highest number of olfactory turbinal bones of any mammal; these are the fine, scroll-like bones in the nasal cavity that are covered by olfactory epithelium for sense of smell.
How does a aardvark communicate?
Aardvarks do not communicate vocally. In fact, they rarely communicate at all, except during mating. Males and females are able to detect when the opposite sex is nearby through both sound and smell. When a male and female meet, they energetically sniff and inspect each other.
What are some interesting facts about the Aardvark?
Amazing Facts About the Aardvark. Aardvarks are tough mammals that live throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. They can eat 50,000 ants in a night and are brilliantly adapted to digging with their spade-shaped feet.
Do aardvarks come out at night?
Aardvarks are nocturnal, sleeping in underground burrows during the day and coming out at night to feed. When breeding, burrows can be extensive networks of over 10 m (33 ft) in length and with multiple entrances.
What animals do Aardvarks eat?
Aardvarks are prey to many animals including lions, leopards, hunting dogs, hyenas, and pythons. Aardvarks have a keen sense of hearing that enables them to detect approaching predators.
How many ants does an aardvark eat in a night?
They can eat 50,000 ants in a night and are brilliantly adapted to digging with their spade-shaped feet. Aardvarks are a vital part of the ecosystem as they are prey for many species, and their old burrows provide homes for other animals such as African Wild Dogs.