Aardwolf (Proteles cristata)
The Aardwolf (Proteles cristata) is an insectivorous mammal that lives in the shrublands of eastern and southern Africa. Its appearance is similar to that of a thin Striped Hyena, but the Aardwolf has a more slender muzzle, black vertical stripes on a coat of yellow fur, and a long mane down the midline of the neck and back. During confrontations, the Aardwolf’s mane is raised to appear larger. As their diets consist mostly of termites, they are found in regions where the family Hodotermitidae are abundant, like grasslands and savannahs. They are known to by shy, and as nocturnal animals, they sleep in burrows during the day.
The Aardwolf has a body length in the range of 21.6”-31.5” (55-80 cm) and total weight of 18-26.5 lb (8-12 kg). Aardwolfs have a shoulder height between 16”-20” (41-51 cm), body width of 5.9”-7.9” (15-20 cm), and tail length of 7.9”-11.8” (20-30 cm). The typical lifespan of the Aardwolf is between 8-14 years.
The Aardwolf (Proteles cristata) is an insectivorous mammal that lives in the shrublands of eastern and southern Africa. Its appearance is similar to that of a thin Striped Hyena, but the Aardwolf has a more slender muzzle, black vertical stripes on a coat of yellow fur, and a long mane down the midline of the neck and back. During confrontations, the Aardwolf’s mane is raised to appear larger. As their diets consist mostly of termites, they are found in regions where the family Hodotermitidae are abundant, like grasslands and savannahs. They are known to by shy, and as nocturnal animals, they sleep in burrows during the day.
The Aardwolf has a body length in the range of 21.6”-31.5” (55-80 cm) and total weight of 18-26.5 lb (8-12 kg). Aardwolfs have a shoulder height between 16”-20” (41-51 cm), body width of 5.9”-7.9” (15-20 cm), and tail length of 7.9”-11.8” (20-30 cm). The typical lifespan of the Aardwolf is between 8-14 years.
