Did You Know? 10 Surprising Facts About the African Aardvark
The African aardvark is full of surprises.
Somewhere in Africa, an animal with an extraordinary nose, unusual teeth and a surprisingly complex life is going about its business, largely unnoticed. The aardvark may not be the first animal that comes to mind when we think of Africa’s remarkable wildlife, but look a little closer and its unusual features begin to tell a fascinating story.
From nostrils that shut out dust to a little-known relationship with an underground melon, these ten facts reveal another side of one of Africa’s most distinctive mammals.
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1. Its nostrils can close like protective shutters
Imagine digging through dry soil without getting dust up your nose. The aardvark has a practical solution. Its nostrils can close while it digs, helping prevent soil and debris from entering its nasal passages. Fine hairs around the snout provide additional protection.
It is a small detail, but an important one for an animal that regularly puts its face close to the ground.
Source: Zoo Berlin.
Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) specimen, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. ~ Photo by Masur, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
2. Its teeth are unlike those of most mammals
Aardvark teeth have a remarkable structure. Instead of the conventional enamel-covered teeth familiar in humans and many other mammals, their cheek teeth consist of densely packed, tube-like structures made from dentine, surrounded by dental cement.
These specialised teeth are the reason for the name of their biological order, Tubulidentata, which refers to tubular teeth.
Adult aardvarks also lack the incisors and canines found in many other mammals. Their dental arrangement is a reminder that nature's toolkit comes in many forms.
Source: Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.
Aardvark lower jaw and teeth. ~ Illustration by Frank E. Beddard, The Cambridge Natural History: Mammalia (1902). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
3. Their front and back feet have different numbers of toes
Aardvarks have four toes on each front foot and five on each hind foot. Each toe bears a strong, nail-like claw.
These differences are easy to overlook, but they are a useful identification detail for anyone studying aardvark anatomy or examining tracks and other signs in the field.
Source: Animal Diversity Web.
Aardvark skeleton. ~ Photo by M0tty, CC BY-SA 3.0, and Aardvark specimen, Field Museum, Chicago. Photo: Dallas Krentzel, CC BY 2.0, Cropped from original via Wikimedia Commons
4. Their ears can fold out of the way
Those distinctive ears are not simply fixed in an upright position. Aardvarks can fold them back, including when moving through confined spaces.
The ears are a striking feature of the animal's appearance, but their flexibility is just as interesting. It is another example of how the aardvark's body accommodates a life spent moving through different environments.
Source: Zoo Berlin.
Taxidermied aardvark. ~ Photo by Cattafra, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped from original.
5. Their eyesight is relatively poor
Aardvarks do not rely on sharp eyesight to navigate their world. Their vision is relatively poor, and they have limited colour vision. Their other senses, particularly smell and hearing, play important roles in gathering information about their surroundings.
This is a useful reminder that the way an animal experiences its environment can differ considerably from our own. What looks dark or indistinct to a human observer does not necessarily mean the aardvark is equally unequipped to function in its surroundings.
Source: Chester Zoo.
6. A newborn aardvark arrives with its eyes open
Baby aardvarks are born with their eyes open, despite their otherwise vulnerable appearance. They are initially hairless, and their development during the first weeks of life is rapid.
At around two weeks old, a youngster can begin accompanying its mother outside the birth den. This early stage marks the beginning of its gradual introduction to the world beyond the shelter in which it was born.
Source: SANBI, Orycteropus afer
Young aardvark (Orycteropus afer). ~ Photo by Elias N. (Elias Neideck), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and background color modified from original.
7. Scientists have recently refined what they know about aardvark pregnancies
Aardvark reproduction has long been difficult to study in detail. Their elusive habits mean that even basic information about their reproductive biology has taken time to establish.
Researchers from San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park confirmed a gestation period of between 213 and 258 days in the animals studied. Their paper, published in Theriogenology Wild, also documented aspects of aardvark reproductive physiology that had previously received limited attention.
The finding is a useful example of how scientific understanding develops through careful observation. Even for a well-known species, there can still be important gaps in our knowledge.
Source: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Understanding Aardvarks.
8. Young aardvarks begin eating solid food at around three months
Milk is the primary food for a young aardvark during its earliest months. According to SANBI, youngsters begin eating insects at approximately three months of age, before becoming independent at around six months.
This transition is gradual, giving the youngster time to develop the skills and physical abilities it will need as an adult.
Source: SANBI.
9. Aardvarks can make powerful leaps
Despite their sturdy build and relatively short legs, aardvarks are capable of surprisingly powerful jumps. When startled or threatened, they may use quick leaps as part of their escape response.
This is not necessarily the behavior most people would associate with an animal built so strongly for digging. It is, however, a useful reminder that the aardvark has more than one way to respond when danger appears.
Source: Honolulu Zoo.
10. An unusual African melon may depend on aardvarks
One of the most intriguing aardvark stories involves the aardvark cucumber, Cucumis humifructus. Unlike familiar cucumbers, this African plant develops fruits underground.
The plant’s unusual relationship with aardvarks has now been investigated in the field, revealing how its buried fruits are found and its seeds dispersed.
Researchers investigating this relationship in central Namibia used camera traps, seed germination experiments and analysis of aardvark droppings. Naturally buried fruits were excavated only by aardvarks during the study, and all the plants examined had grown from seeds in aardvark pellets.
Porcupines ate fruits placed above ground or buried shallowly, destroying the soft seeds as they chewed. The researchers argue that deep burial helps protect the fruit from seed predators while allowing aardvarks to uncover it and disperse its seeds.
Source: Johnson, 2025, Plants, People, Planet: Antbears and underground melons.
Aardvark cucumber (Cucumis humifructus) fruit. ~ Illustration by Sydney M. Stent, 1927. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Keep Your Curiosity Wild
The aardvark reminds us that there is always more to discover about Africa's wildlife. From its unusual teeth to its role in dispersing the seeds of an underground melon, this animal offers plenty of reasons to look beyond the obvious.
The next time you read about an aardvark, share a wildlife fact or visit a reserve, take a moment to appreciate the lesser-known details. Curiosity can be the beginning of understanding, and understanding can encourage more responsible care for the natural world.
The more we learn to value the lives of wild creatures, the stronger our commitment becomes to protecting their future.
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Sources and further reading
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