Aardwolf
At first glance, the Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) looks a lot like a hyena. In most cases, the aardwolf is placed in the same family of the hyenas, but is actually a separate family altogether.
The Aardwolf is native to Southern and Eastern Africa. They are insectivorous, but also do eat carrion from time to time. The aardwolf is nothing like the hyena; they are non-aggressive and rather defenseless.
Their resemblance to hyenas give them a defensive advantage though, as their predators believe the aardwolf to be a hyena. They are actually quite smaller than a hyena, with a pointed face and pointed ears. Their fur is a yellowish brown color with black vertical stripes down their sides. They also have a mane of fur down the center of their backs.
The Aardwolf eats insects, and their main food source is termites.
Aardwolf Statistics
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Average Height: 45 cm
Average Length: 70 cm
Average Length with Tail: 1 metre
Average Weight: 11 kg
Life Expectancy: Wild – 15 years, Captivity – 25 years
Aardwolf Classification
| - Kingdom: Animalia |
| - Phylum: Chordata |
| - Class: Mammalia |
| - Order: Carnivora |
| - Family: Hyaenidae |
| - Genus: Proteles |
| - Species: Proteles cristatus |