The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. It is the only living species of the order Tubulidentata. It subsists on ants and termites, which it will dig out of their hills using its sharp claws and powerful legs. Unlike other insectivores, it has a long pig-like snout, which is used to sniff out food. It roams over most of the southern two-thirds of the African continent, avoiding areas that are mainly rocky.
The aardvark is the only living species left in the order Tubulidentata (literally “tube of teeth”). This order of mammals dates back to the Eocene, and once ranged across Eurasia and Africa. It has a completely unique dental structure where each tooth is made, not of enamel, but thousands of vertical tubes of dentine.
