Hannah Osborne is the planet Earth and animals editor at Live Science. Prior to Live Science, she worked for several years at Newsweek as the science editor. Before this she was science editor at International Business Times U.K. Hannah holds a master's in journalism from Goldsmith's, University of London.
What it eats: Termites and ants
Aardwolf tongues are broad and rounded, with big, hardened papillae, or the bumps on the tongue that contain taste buds. The sand they lap up with the termites helps the hyenas' digestion. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Aardwolves, which translates as"earth wolves" in Afrikaans, are the smallest of the four hyena species, measuring 22 to 31 inches long and up to 20 inches tall. Unlike spotted hyenas and striped hyenas , aardwolves don't live in packs and only come together to mate and rear young.
Scientists aren't sure how aardwolves first evolved. The species' complete departure from its living relatives and extinct ancestors means it's a"ghost lineage," according to a 2022 statement from Berkeley News. The species is believed to have emerged about 15 million years ago, based on genetic divergence from other hyena species, but the earliest fossils resembling the species date to just 4 million years ago.
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