Aardwolf what do they eat

This unusual species of Hyena is a termite eater. So highly adapted to eating termites, the aardwolf's teeth, except for its canines, have dwindled to mere pegs incapable of even chewing meat.

Its fangs are still well developed, and it uses them to defend its territory from other Aardwolves. The Aardwolf's diet consists mainly of two species of termites, one of which goes dormant during the cooler winter, so the Aardwolf then switch to the other species for nourishment. This limited diet means the Aardwolf has a very restricted range and can only live where these two species of termites are abundant.

On an average night an Aardwolf can consume anywhere from to termites. By using their acute hearing the Aardwolf is able to detect termites in the ground and then using their broad, sticky tongue they lap them up. During the mating season, solitary males will roam their own territories as well as those of weaker rivals in search of females.

The gestation period of an aardwolf is around 90 days, with most cubs being born during the rainy months when termite activity is at its highest. The female gives birth in a burrow. A typical litter comprises 2 or 3 cubs, but as many as 5 may be born. Each cub weighs about to g 7. The cubs spend their first 6 to 8 weeks in the den. Both parents play a part in looking after the young during this time. The male may stay and guard the den for several hours each night, giving the female time to forage.

At 3 months the cubs begin to forage under the supervision of their parents. At four months they are fully weaned, although they stay and share a den with their mother until the next breeding season. The diet of the aardwolf is highly specialized, consisting almost exclusively of termites, particularly those of the genus Trinervitermes. The aardwolf can tolerate the toxic substance secreted by the soldier termites. Species favored by the aardwolf include: Trinervitermes bettonianus in eastern Africa, Trinervitermes rhodesiensis in central Africa and Trinervitermes trinervoides in southern Africa.

The aardwolf typically forages alone, using the senses of smell and hearing to locate its food. If their territory is infringed upon, aardwolves will chase the intruder up to m 1, ft or to the border.

If the intruder is caught, which rarely happens, a fight will occur, which is accompanied by soft clucking, hoarse barking, and a type of roar. The majority of incursions occur during the mating season. When food is scarce, the stringent territorial system may be abandoned and as many as three pairs may occupy a "single territory". Their dens are usually abandoned aardvark, springhare, or porcupine dens, or on occasion, they find shelter in crevices in rocks.

They will also dig their own dens, or enlarge dens started by springhares. They typically will only use one or two dens at a time, rotating through all of their dens every six months.

During the summer, they may rest outside their den during the night and sleep underground during the heat of the day. Aardwolves locate their food by sound and also from the scent secreted by the soldier termites. They feed primarily on termites licking them off the ground. Aardwolves do not destroy the termite mound or consume the entire colony, thus ensuring that the termites can rebuild and provide a continuous supply of food.

They often memorize the location of such nests and return to them every few months. Aardwolves are carnivores insectivores. They feed mainly on termites but also other insects, larvae, eggs, and, occasionally small mammals and birds, but these constitute a very small percentage of their total diet. Aardwolves are monogamous and form pairs, however, dominant males may mate with more than female. Their breeding season varies depending on location but normally takes place during autumn or spring.

In South Africa, breeding occurs in early July. During this time, unpaired males search their own territory, as well as others, for a female to mate with. Dominant males also mate opportunistically with the females of less dominant neighboring aardwolves, which can result in conflict between rival males. Gestation lasts between 89 and 92 days, producing 2 to 5 cubs most often 2 or 3 during the rainy season November-December when termites are more active.

The cubs are born with their eyes open, but initially are helpless, and weigh around g 7. The first 6 to 8 weeks are spent in the den with their parents. The male may spend up to 6 hours a night watching over the cubs while the mother is out looking for food. After 3 months, the cubs begin supervised foraging, and by 4 months are normally independent, though they often share a den with their mother until the next breeding season.

By the time the next set of cubs is born, the older cubs have moved on. Aardwolves generally achieve reproductive maturity at 1,5 to 2 years of age. Aardwolves are relatively widespread throughout eastern Africa. In some areas, they are persecuted because of the mistaken belief that they prey on livestock; however, they are actually beneficial to the farmers because they eat termites that are detrimental.

In other areas, the farmers have recognized this, but aardwolves are still killed, on occasion, for their fur. Aardwolves are also killed by dogs and other carnivores and suffer from incidents on roads.