Weird animals include the aye-aye, a mammal that finds food by tapping on trees; the glass frog, an amphibian with a see-through body; the dumbo octopus, a bizarre-looking mollusk found four miles below the surface of the ocean; and the platypus, a mammal that lays eggs, finds food using electrical fields, and has a venomous spine on its ankles.
Aardvark
Aardvark
Scientific name: Orycteropus afer
Type of animal: Mammal
Family: Orycteropodidae
Where found: Africa
Conservation status: Least Concern
The aardvark is a nocturnal mammal found in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. This weird-looking animal has a long snout, large ears, and a thick tail; all of which are adaptations for a fossorial (burrowing) lifestyle.
The aardvark is a specialized digger. It uses its powerful claws to burrow into the ground in search of its favorite food: ants and termites. It will also burrow in order to escape predators, and can dig a 2 ft deep hole in under 30 seconds.
The species has a keen sense of smell, which it uses to locate its prey. It captures its insect food with a sticky tongue that can extend up to 30 cm / 12 in.
The aardvark is a solitary animal. It is surprisingly good at swimming and an extremely fast runner.
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