At first glance, the aardwolf looks like a smaller, softer version of a hyena, but appearances can be deceiving. This nocturnal creature, found across the grasslands of eastern and southern Africa, leads a life unlike any other carnivore.
Instead of chasing prey or scavenging carcasses, it spends its nights delicately slurping up thousands of termites with its long, sticky tongue. Despite belonging to the same family as fierce hunters like the spotted hyena, the aardwolf’s world revolves around patience, precision, and an extraordinary digestive system built for insects, not meat.
This article is for general informational purposes only. Always observe wildlife safely and from a respectful distance. Photos are for illustrative purposes only.
A Hyena’s Cousin With Unusual Habits
The aardwolf is part of the hyena family, yet it breaks nearly every stereotype that comes with that name. While spotted and striped hyenas are famous scavengers, the aardwolf lives a much quieter life.
Instead of prowling for carcasses, it spends its nights scouring the ground for insects, particularly termites. With its slender muzzle and sticky tongue, it can lap up as many as 300,000 termites in a single evening.
A Carnivore With A Soft Side
Though it’s classified as a carnivore, the aardwolf’s diet is almost entirely insect-based. Its sharp teeth are small and ill-suited for tearing flesh, having evolved over time to suit its delicate feeding style.
Scientists often describe it as a specialist feeder, perfectly adapted to a niche where few other mammals compete. By avoiding confrontation and relying on abundance rather than aggression, the aardwolf carves out a surprisingly peaceful existence.
Life After Dark
Shy and secretive, the aardwolf spends daylight hours resting in underground burrows, often ones abandoned by aardvarks or porcupines. As dusk falls, it emerges to feed, guided by its keen hearing and sense of smell.
These nocturnal forays are quiet affairs with no howling or chasing, just patient, rhythmic licking as it harvests termites from the soil without destroying their mounds. This careful feeding behaviour ensures the colony survives, providing a renewable food source.
Love, Family, And Territory
Unlike most hyenas, aardwolves form lifelong monogamous pairs. Together, they defend a shared territory using scent markings from special glands near their tails.
Both parents take turns guarding their burrow and raising their young, who begin nibbling on termites within weeks of birth. This cooperative parenting gives the cubs an early advantage and strengthens the bond between the adult pair, a rare trait in the hyena family.
Built For Bug Hunting
Evolution shaped the aardwolf into a termite-hunting specialist. Its long, sticky tongue works like a natural conveyor belt, sweeping up insects with remarkable efficiency.
Large ears help it detect the faint rustling of termite activity underground, while its slender build allows quick, agile movements across the savanna. These physical traits set it apart from bulkier hyena relatives and prove that nature rewards specialization. Every feature serves a purpose in its insect-focused lifestyle.
Surviving On The Savanna
The aardwolf calls the grasslands of eastern and southern Africa home, where termite populations remain plentiful year-round. Open terrain suits its foraging style perfectly, offering minimal obstacles as it searches for food.
During dry seasons, termites become even more concentrated, making hunting easier. While other predators struggle with scarce prey, the aardwolf benefits from the resilience of insect colonies. Its habitat choice reflects a smart survival strategy built on predictability rather than risk.
A Reminder Of Nature’s Oddities
The aardwolf stands as a reminder that not all predators live by tooth and claw. With its shy temperament, insect-based diet, and quiet intelligence, it’s proof that even in the harsh African wilderness, survival isn’t always about strength.
Sometimes, it’s about subtlety. This gentle creature challenges our assumptions about what it means to be a carnivore. Its existence enriches our understanding of biodiversity and adaptation in fascinating ways.
