Meet the creature with the ears of a rabbit, the snout of a pig, and the tail of a kangaroo: the aardvark (Orycteropus afer). This medium-sized, burrowing mammal is native to sub-Saharan Africa, and its Afrikaans name means “earth pig.” Elusive, nocturnal, and solitary, it emerges after dark to roam the savanna in search of food. It is the only living species in its order (Tubulidentata), an evolutionary outlier whose closest relatives within Afrotheria include elephants and hyraxes.

Most aardvarks weigh 60 to 80 kg (130 to 180 lbs). Body length is approximately 105 to 130 cm (3.4 to 4.3 ft), with the tail adding up to 70 cm (28 in); large individuals can reach a total length of roughly 2.2 m (over 7 ft). Shoulder height is about 60 cm (24 in). Sparse hair covers pinkish-gray to brownish skin that is often red-stained by soil. The skin is thick and tough, useful against insect bites and abrasive ground.

The head is highly specialized. The long snout has nostrils that seal to keep out dust and ants, with dense hairs acting as filters. Inside is an extremely long, sticky tongue up to about 30 cm (12 in) for lapping ants and termites. Adults lack incisors and canines; their cheek teeth are ever-growing tubular columns of dentin without enamel, suited to a soft insect diet. Ears are long and upright, about 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in), provide excellent hearing, and can fold back to block dirt. Eyes are small and rod-dominated, typical of nocturnal mammals.

The limbs are built for excavation. Front feet carry four thick, spade-like claws; hind feet have five. Powerful forearms and shoulders let them cut through hard earth and the crusts of termite mounds. When escaping danger, they can tunnel nearly 1 m (3 ft) in about 15 seconds. The thick-based, tapering tail acts as a stabilizer while standing or maneuvering in burrows. Every part of the build serves a life underground.

Aardvarks live across most of sub-Saharan Africa, from grassy savannas to woodlands and scrub. They thrive where ants and termites are available year-round, making savanna, grassland, and open woodland prime habitats. They avoid rocky ground or hard-baked soils that resist digging and are absent from swamps that would flood burrows. They also do not occur in true deserts or the dense rainforests of central Africa. In the Ethiopian highlands, they have been recorded up to about 3,200 m (10,500 ft), showing they can adapt to a wide range of altitudes when food is present. Although widespread, they remain thinly scattered and elusive, so most signs of their presence come from footprints, burrows, or broken termite mounds.

During the day, aardvarks rest underground in burrows that shield them from heat. They may scratch out short temporary holes for naps while foraging, but also maintain a larger home burrow within their range. These permanent shelters can run 3 to 13 m (10 to 43 ft) long, with multiple entrances and side chambers. The main burrow is used for breeding and sleeping and is often modified or expanded over time. When inside, an aardvark usually plugs the entrance with soil, leaving a small ventilation gap. Over time, individuals shift to new burrows, leaving the old ones vacant and ready for other animals to occupy.