Changes

}}

}}

The '''aardwolf''' (''Proteles cristata'') is an [[Africa]]n [[carnivore]] of the family [[hyena|Hyaenidae]].  The smallest member of that family, the aardwolf differs immediately from its bone-crushing, carrion-eating relatives by subsisting on a diet of termites<ref>”Aardwolf”.  ‘’The New Encyclopedia Britannica’’.  15th ed., Vol. 1</ref>.

The '''aardwolf''' (''Proteles cristata'') is an [[Africa]]n [[carnivore]] of the family [[hyena|Hyaenidae]].  The smallest member of that family, the aardwolf differs immediately from its bone-crushing, carrion-eating relatives by subsisting on a diet of termites.<ref>”Aardwolf”.  ‘’The New Encyclopedia Britannica’’.  15th ed., Vol. 1</ref>

==Description==

==Description==

The aardwolf is 22 to 31 inches long and weigh 18 to 26 pounds; the weight is subject to seasonal fluctuations and can vary in southern Africa, while reaching up to 30 pounds in the east of the continent<ref>Holekamp & Kolowski, pg 252</ref>. Males and females are of equal size.   

The aardwolf is 22 to 31 inches long and weigh 18 to 26 pounds; the weight is subject to seasonal fluctuations and can vary in southern Africa, while reaching up to 30 pounds in the east of the continent.<ref>Holekamp & Kolowski, pg 252</ref>  Males and females are of equal size.   

The body structure is characterized by the sloping back, with the front legs longer than the hind legs; in general the legs are long and slender.  The front paws are provided with five toes and the hind paws with four toes - the other hyena species lack the first toe (dewclaw) of the front paw<ref>Kingdom, J.: ''East African Mammals''; Academic Press, London (1977)</ref>. The aardwolf, like all hyenas, walks digitigrade (i.e. on the toes), with the toes bearing non-retractable claws.

The body structure is characterized by the sloping back, with the front legs longer than the hind legs; in general the legs are long and slender.  The front paws are provided with five toes and the hind paws with four toes - the other hyena species lack the first toe (dewclaw) of the front paw.<ref>Kingdom, J.: ''East African Mammals''; Academic Press, London (1977)</ref> The aardwolf, like all hyenas, walks digitigrade (i.e. on the toes), with the toes bearing non-retractable claws.

The primary color of the fur is yellowish-gray, but it can vary from whitish-yellow to reddish-brown. On the back and on the flanks there are several dark, vertical strips, diagonally across the front and hind legs. On the lower parts of the legs are irregular transverse strips, the paws themselves are dark. Sometimes there are also spots on the nape of the neck; The throat is light gray or whitish.  Aardwolf stripes are similar to those on the striped hyena, but they are smaller by half and their stripes are much more regular. Along the back is a crest of hair from head to tail, which are up to 20 inches long at the shoulders; in case of danger or a threat the crest can be raised to make the animal appear larger.

The primary color of the fur is yellowish-gray, but it can vary from whitish-yellow to reddish-brown. On the back and on the flanks there are several dark, vertical strips, diagonally across the front and hind legs. On the lower parts of the legs are irregular transverse strips, the paws themselves are dark. Sometimes there are also spots on the nape of the neck; The throat is light gray or whitish.  Aardwolf stripes are similar to those on the striped hyena, but they are smaller by half and their stripes are much more regular. Along the back is a crest of hair from head to tail, which are up to 20 inches long at the shoulders; in case of danger or a threat the crest can be raised to make the animal appear larger.

The slim head sits on a long neck. The ears are large and pointed, the eyes are also enlarged and have excellent night vision. In particular the sense of hearing and the sense of smell are well developed. As with many other inhabitants of dry regions, the ''bulla tympanica'' - the lower pocket of the tympanic cavity in the ear - is noticeably enlarged, enabling the aardwolf to  hear deep sounds at great distances.  

The slim head sits on a long neck. The ears are large and pointed, the eyes are also enlarged and have excellent night vision. In particular the sense of hearing and the sense of smell are well developed. As with many other inhabitants of dry regions, the ''bulla tympanica'' - the lower pocket of the tympanic cavity in the ear - is noticeably enlarged, enabling the aardwolf to  hear deep sounds at great distances.  

The most distinctive difference between the aardwolf and the other species of hyenas are the jaws<ref>http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/VHAYSSEN/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-363-01-0001.pdf</ref>, which are much smaller; they are reduced to minute, far-apart pegs, and their number is irregular. The canines, which serve in a defensive manner, are well-formed, but in older animals they are often worn out.  The incisors are inconspicuous.  The tooth formula is I 3/3 - C 1/1 - P 3 / 1-2 M 1 / 1-2, so in total they have 28 to 32 teeth. In their mouths there are further adaptations to a termite diet: the palate houses a broad spatula-shaped tongue covered with large conical papillae, with the salivary glands produce large amounts of sticky saliva.

The most distinctive difference between the aardwolf and the other species of hyenas are the jaws,<ref>http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/VHAYSSEN/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-363-01-0001.pdf</ref> which are much smaller; they are reduced to minute, far-apart pegs, and their number is irregular. The canines, which serve in a defensive manner, are well-formed, but in older animals they are often worn out.  The incisors are inconspicuous.  The tooth formula is I 3/3 - C 1/1 - P 3 / 1-2 M 1 / 1-2, so in total they have 28 to 32 teeth. In their mouths there are further adaptations to a termite diet: the palate houses a broad spatula-shaped tongue covered with large conical papillae, with the salivary glands produce large amounts of sticky saliva.

==Range and habitat==

==Range and habitat==

Aardwolfs are located in two geographically separated areas of Africa, separated by a gap of around 900 miles. The northern range extends from the extreme southeast of Egypt along the Red Sea coast in Sudan and Eritrea via Ethiopia, Somalia to Kenya and Central Tanzania. The southern range extends from south-western Angola and southern Zambia to South Africa<ref>http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/carnivores/aardwolf.html</ref>.

Aardwolfs are located in two geographically separated areas of Africa, separated by a gap of around 900 miles. The northern range extends from the extreme southeast of Egypt along the Red Sea coast in Sudan and Eritrea via Ethiopia, Somalia to Kenya and Central Tanzania. The southern range extends from south-western Angola and southern Zambia to South Africa.<ref>http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/carnivores/aardwolf.html</ref>

Aardwolfs prefer open, rather dry habitats with an annual rainfall average of no more than 30 inches; this includes grasslands and bushy savannahs, in forests and pure deserts. In Ethiopia they can live at  an elevation of up to 6000 feet.  Nowhere in their distribution area are they particularly frequent; in favorable habitats the average population density is one adult animal per square kilometer.

Aardwolfs prefer open, rather dry habitats with an annual rainfall average of no more than 30 inches; this includes grasslands and bushy savannahs, in forests and pure deserts. In Ethiopia they can live at  an elevation of up to 6000 feet.  Nowhere in their distribution area are they particularly frequent; in favorable habitats the average population density is one adult animal per square kilometer.

==Diet==

==Diet==

In contrast to the other hyenas, aardwolfs eat almost exclusively from termites.  Unlike other insect-eating mammals, such as aardvarks or anteaters, the aardwolf has no strong claws for breaking up the termite mound; rather, the broad, sticky tongue is ideally adapted to licking the termites from the ground.  Aardwolfs are specialized in termites of the genus ''Trinervitermes'': ''T. bettonianus'' in East Africa, ''T. rhodesiensis'' in Zimbabwe and Botswana, and ''T. trinervoides'' in South Africa are the preferred species.  These termites are nocturnal and search for food in groups of 2,000 to 4,000 on the surface, making them them easier to capture than other genera that largely remain in the subsurface.  They are also disdained by most other insectivorous mammals, as the soldiers of these termites secrete a toxin made of diterpenes and monoterpenes which dissuades all other predators from eating them but the aardwolf, which is extremely tolerant of the toxin<ref>Holekamp & Kolowski, pg. 253</ref>.

In contrast to the other hyenas, aardwolfs eat almost exclusively from termites.  Unlike other insect-eating mammals, such as aardvarks or anteaters, the aardwolf has no strong claws for breaking up the termite mound; rather, the broad, sticky tongue is ideally adapted to licking the termites from the ground.  Aardwolfs are specialized in termites of the genus ''Trinervitermes'': ''T. bettonianus'' in East Africa, ''T. rhodesiensis'' in Zimbabwe and Botswana, and ''T. trinervoides'' in South Africa are the preferred species.  These termites are nocturnal and search for food in groups of 2,000 to 4,000 on the surface, making them easier to capture than other genera that largely remain in the subsurface.  They are also disdained by most other insectivorous mammals, as the soldiers of these termites secrete a toxin made of diterpenes and monoterpenes which dissuades all other predators from eating them but the aardwolf, which is extremely tolerant of the toxin.<ref>Holekamp & Kolowski, pg. 253</ref>  

Every night an aardwolf eats up to 300,000 termites, which is two to four pounds. During the food search it moves in a zig-zag pattern, trotting at about 1/2 mile per hour, holding its head down with ears bent forward - presumably termites are detected by smell or hearing.  Young animals have been observed vomiting after eating; presumably an immunity to the termite's toxin is built up rather than acquired.

Every night an aardwolf eats up to 300,000 termites, which is two to four pounds. During the food search it moves in a zig-zag pattern, trotting at about 1/2 mile per hour, holding its head down with ears bent forward - presumably termites are detected by smell or hearing.  Young animals have been observed vomiting after eating; presumably an immunity to the termite's toxin is built up rather than acquired.

Up to the age of about seven months, the young animals are sometimes accompanied by an adult when looking for food, after which they undertake their forays alone.  With about a year lead their forays more and more away from the parental area.  When the one-year-olds leave the den for the first time, they move away completely and try to establish their own territories. Sexual maturity is about 1.5 years.

Up to the age of about seven months, the young animals are sometimes accompanied by an adult when looking for food, after which they undertake their forays alone.  With about a year lead their forays more and more away from the parental area.  When the one-year-olds leave the den for the first time, they move away completely and try to establish their own territories. Sexual maturity is about 1.5 years.

In a study carried out in South Africa between 1981 and 1984, 68% of the young animals survived the first year of life<ref>http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/VHAYSSEN/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-363-01-0001.pdf</ref>. The maximum age of an animal in human custody was 15 years; life expectancy in the wild is not known, but is undoubtedly lower.

In a study carried out in South Africa between 1981 and 1984, 68% of the young animals survived the first year of life.<ref>http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/VHAYSSEN/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-363-01-0001.pdf</ref>  The maximum age of an animal in human custody was 15 years; life expectancy in the wild is not known, but is undoubtedly lower.

==Threats==

==Threats==