:: Professor Paul's Guide to Mammals : Carnivora;Carnivores : Living mammals,family Hyaenidae;Hyaenas : Aardwolf;Proteles cristatus

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Home Professor Paul's Guide to Mammals Carnivora;Carnivores Living mammals,family Hyaenidae;Hyaenas

Aardwolf;Proteles cristatus

Last update: 31-12-69

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Range and Habitat

Aardwolves inhabit the savannas of central and southeastern Africa. There are two distinct populations of aardwolf in Africa, one that occurs in northeastern Sudan to southern Tanzania, and one that occurs in southern Angolia and Zambia to South Africa.

Physical Appearance

The aardwolf is the smallest and furriest of the hyenas. Their coloration varies from a yellowish brown to reddish color, with a black muzzle and ears, and have black stripes running vertically across their sides. They have a long mane of hair along their back that they can erect when frightened. They have the typical hyena look, with their canid looking body and low sloping hindquarters, although theirs does not slope as dramatically as the other three species.

Unlike other hyenas, the aardwolf has five toes on its front feet (the other hyena species have 4 toes on each of their feet). They can be distingushed from the other species also by their comparatively small molars, weak jaw tone, a pointed nose and long ears. Because of these facts, biologists for years had considered classifying the aardwolf as a species of civet, in the family Viverridae.

Diet

Aardwolf is the african word for the "earth wolf", probably due to the fact that they dig in the dirt to unearth termites. The aardwolf is what is known as an "incomplete carnivore", because it is an insectivore that still eats carrion. Because of this it has an inability to adapt to life on the savanna.

They are primarily nocturnal in their feeding behaviors; their activity is determined by the activity of the termites. They feed exclusively on insects. Their primary food source is termites in the genus Trinervitermes, but they will also feed on termites in the genera Odontotermes, Macrotermes, and Hodotermes. The pigmented harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus, is a diurnal species, and usually only eaten as a suplement in the cooler months during the dry season. During the winter, the aardwolf will experience a period of food deprivation, and will loose up to 20% of its body weight. Many cubs die during the dry season due to lack of food.

Though they live in small groups, they are a solitary forager. Unlike other ant or termite eating animals, they do not dig very much in the dirt to unearth the termites, instead feeding on the ones that come to the surface or in loose soil. Although they are often seen near carrion, they do not feed on it, instead feeding on the beetle larvae, maggots and other insects that surround the carcass.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Aardwolves' breeding season occurs in different times of the year depending on the location. Those farther south have a more restricted breeding season, with young born from October to December. The female comes into heat usually in the months of June to July. Females are receptive for 1-3 days. Though monogamous, the dominant male will mate with females from other territories. Mating can last up to 4 hours, and there is no copulatory tie as there is seen with dogs. Females will come into heat again if the mating was not productive.

After a gestation period of 13-15 weeks, they give birth to a small litter of 3-4 cubs in a den, usually one that has been abandoned by another animal. The parents are monogamous, and raise the cubs together. The male's primary duty is guarding the den from predators. The cubs first emerge from the den at 1 month old, but continue to stay in the den until they are 4 months old. At about 9 weeks, they begin to forage near their den. At 12 weeks they accompany their parents on foraging trips, while still staying within 500 m of the densite. At 4 months old, they are completely weaned, and will forage independently throughout the territory. The cubs usually stay in their natal territory until they are a year old.

Social Behavior

Though often thought of as a solitary animal, the aardwolf actually lives in small groups. The aardwolf forms monogamous pairs, and lives in a permanent territory together with their most recent offspring. Territories range in size from 1-4 km², depenmding on the availability of food. Territorial boundaries are marked by "pasting" a secretion from their anal glands on grass. Both sexes mark, although the males do so more frequently. Fighting rarely occurs; any intruders are chased off without confrontation.

Threats

They are not considered endangered in the wild. Native people have been known to kill the aardwolf for its meat and skins. Their greatest threat comes from locust control programs, which spray poison on swarms of locusts.

Subspecies

Proteles cristatus cristatus -- South Africa to southern Angola, southern Zambia, and southwest Mozambique
Proteles cristatus septentrionalis -- East Africa, central Tanzania to northeastern Uganda and Somalia, and along the coast of the Red Sea to southeastern Egypt

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