Meet the Aardwolf: Africa’s Termite-Eating Hyena
Meet Arthur, the resident aardwolf on Amalinda Safari Collection’s private concession in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
The aardwolf might not be as famous as its hyena cousins, but this small, nocturnal mammal is full of surprises. Neither a wolf nor a typical hyena, the aardwolf (Proteles cristata) is a unique species known for one very specific diet – termites! Its name literally means “earth-wolf” in Afrikaans, highlighting its burrowing habits and canine-like appearance. In this article, we’ll explore commonly asked questions about the aardwolf in a casual, easy-to-understand way. You’ll learn what an aardwolf is, where it lives, what it eats, how it behaves, its mating habits, conservation status, and some interesting facts that make this creature one of Africa’s most fascinating nocturnal hunters.
What is an aardwolf?
An aardwolf is a small insect-eating mammal that belongs to the hyena family (Hyaenidae). In fact, it’s often referred to as the “termite-eating hyena” because, unlike its bone-crushing hyena relatives, the aardwolf survives almost entirely on termites. It is the smallest of the four hyena species, weighing about 8–14 kg (18–30 lbs) as an adult and standing roughly 40–50 cm (16–20 in) at the shoulder. At first glance, an aardwolf looks a bit like a tiny striped hyena – it has a slender build, a fox-like face, and a coat with bold black stripes on a yellowish or beige background. Aardwolves also have a distinctive mane of long hair running from the back of the neck to the tail. This mane can be raised to make the aardwolf look larger and more intimidating to predators, though the aardwolf itself is generally shy and prefers to avoid confrontation.
Unlike other hyenas, the aardwolf’s teeth are not made for tearing meat – most of its molars are tiny, peglike stubs, reflecting its insect-only diet. While it still has small, pointed canines, these serve more for defensive nips than for typical carnivorous feeding. Add large, pointed ears to the equation, and you have a nocturnal marvel that’s well-adapted to sensing termite activity at night.
Where do aardwolves live?
Aardwolves are native to eastern and southern Africa, where they inhabit dry, open environments. The species exists in two separate population clusters – one in East/Northeast Africa (including Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania) and another in Southern Africa (covering South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, parts of Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique). They prefer open savannas, grasslands, and shrubby plains with low annual rainfall, avoiding extremely arid deserts or dense forested areas. These habitats offer the termite-rich diet the aardwolf depends on. During the day, aardwolves shelter in underground dens, often repurposing burrows created by other animals such as aardvarks.
Aardwolves in Zimbabwe and Hwange National Park
Zimbabwe hosts stable populations of aardwolves, particularly in well-managed protected areas like Hwange National Park. This vast wilderness of open grasslands and scattered woodlands provides prime termite habitats that support healthy aardwolf numbers. Notably, the Amalinda Safari Collection has reported sightings of an aardwolf on its concession near Sable Valley, offering safari guests a special chance to view this elusive, striped hyena relative. The aardwolf there is known to frequent the same territory year after year, demonstrating how these animals establish and maintain consistent home ranges when conditions are favorable.
What do aardwolves eat?
The aardwolf has one primary food source: termites. More than 90% of its diet consists of certain termite species that forage above ground at night. Armed with a long, sticky tongue and specialized saliva, the aardwolf licks up termites in astonishing quantities – up to 250,000 or more per night. Instead of tearing open mounds, it targets termite species that gather on the ground’s surface, such as Trinervitermes or Hodotermes. This preference allows aardwolves to feed without destroying the entire colony, ensuring future meals at the same site. Because termites are packed with moisture, aardwolves rarely need to drink water, an adaptation well-suited to their often-arid habitats.
How do aardwolves behave?
Aardwolves are nocturnal and typically solitary foragers. They rest in underground dens by day, emerging at dusk to patrol and hunt in their small home ranges (usually 1–4 square kilometers). Though mates share territory, each aardwolf often forages alone to maximize food intake. They communicate through scent marking (“pasting” with a musky secretion from their anal glands) to define territorial boundaries, especially in breeding season.
When threatened, an aardwolf raises its mane to appear larger, accompanied by hisses or growls. As a last resort, it can emit a foul-smelling fluid from its anal glands, deterring potential predators. Due to their shy nature and reliance on termite hunting, aardwolves rarely come into conflict with humans or livestock.
What are aardwolf mating habits?
Though aardwolves typically live a monogamous lifestyle, their social lives can be more nuanced. A male and female often share a territory, mate once yearly (usually in mid-winter), and raise a litter of 2–5 cubs. The female nurses the cubs in a den for several weeks, during which the male guards and helps protect them. Cubs remain dependent for up to a year, learning to forage and practicing their termite-hunting skills under the watchful eyes of both parents.
Genetic studies reveal that while aardwolves form bonded pairs, there can be instances of extra-pair matings. This means some litters may have multiple fathers, reflecting a degree of hidden complexity in an otherwise devoted parental system.
Are aardwolves endangered?
Aardwolves are currently classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, indicating stable populations across much of their range. Their termite-based diet and non-confrontational behavior mean they rarely clash with humans, and thus are not heavily persecuted. However, they remain vulnerable to habitat loss and any threats to termite populations (like pesticide overuse or significant environmental changes). Climate shifts altering rainfall patterns could also impact termite distribution. Still, for now, the aardwolf’s adaptability and the availability of protected areas keep its conservation outlook relatively positive.
Interesting facts about the aardwolf
Only Insect-Eating Hyena: Unlike the spotted or striped hyena, the aardwolf is nearly 100% insectivorous.
Name Origin: “Aardwolf” is Afrikaans/Dutch for “earth-wolf,” referencing its burrowing habits and resemblance to a small wolf.
Super Tongue: With a broad, sticky tongue and glue-like saliva, an aardwolf can lap up hundreds of thousands of termites per night.
Territorial Perfume: Both males and females deposit strong-smelling secretions (“hyena butter”) on vegetation to mark territory.
Elusive Nature: Aardwolves are part of the so-called “Shy Five” of African safaris, seldom seen due to their nocturnal and shy habits.
Lifespan: In the wild, aardwolves can live well over a decade; in captivity, they have been known to surpass 15–20 years.
