Species deserving to be called “monstrosities” in the animal kingdom

Posted by Lucy May 30, 2023 Animals 4 Min Read

This creature has a snout like a pig, a tail resembling a kangaroo’s tail, and long ears similar to those of a rabbit. But the strangest thing lies in its set of teeth…

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Living across the sub-Saharan African region, the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is considered one of the most peculiar animals in the world. Photo: Wildlife Explained.
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This animal has a blackish-gray body, a curved back, and relatively sparse fur. They weigh between 60 and 80 kg and measure 105 to 130 cm in length when fully grown. Photo: Google Arts & Culture.
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The limbs of the aardvark are of moderate length, with the hind limbs being longer than the front limbs. The front limbs have only four digits, while the hind limbs have all five digits. The digits are somewhat flattened, resembling a shovel-like shape. Photo: ThoughtCo.
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The aardvark has a long snout similar to that of a pig, which it uses to sniff out food sources. Its tail can reach up to 70 cm in length, being relatively large and tapering towards the tip, resembling the tail of a kangaroo. Its ears are long and resemble those of a rabbit. Photo: Science.
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Despite having sparse fur on its body, the aardvark has dense tufts of hair around its nose, which serve as a dust filter when they dig in the ground. Photo: Wild Card.
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One of the most distinctive features of the aardvark compared to other animal species lies in its teeth. Each tooth of the aardvark has a cluster of thin, hexagonal, vertically-oriented tubes, with each tube having an individual pulp cavity. Photo: Bone Collecting.
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The number of tubes in each tooth depends on the size of the tooth. The largest tooth can have up to 1,500 tubes. This type of tooth does not have an outer enamel layer, and it is continuously worn down and replaced. Photo: Evolution News.
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In terms of evolution, the aardvark is the only surviving representative of the Tubulidentata order on Earth. Its closest relatives include elephants, manatees, and hyraxes. Photo: The Kosher Safari.
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As a nocturnal foraging animal, the aardvark relies on termites and ants that it excavates from their nests using its sharp claws and strong legs. It also digs burrows for shelter and raising its young. Photo: Timbuktu Travel.
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In nature, aardvarks inhabit various environments, ranging from dry deserts to humid tropical forests. They require soft enough ground to dig burrows that can be up to 10 meters long. Photo: ThoughtCo.
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This species mates during the breeding season, typically towards the end of the year. After a gestation period of 7 months, a newborn weighing around 1.7-1.9 kg is born. Aardvark offspring have folded ears and numerous wrinkles. Photo: Chester Zoo.
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After 5-6 weeks, hair begins to grow on the body of the aardvark. It can leave the burrow and accompany its mother after just 2 weeks, and starts eating termites at around 9 weeks. They reach sexual maturity at approximately 2 years old. Photo: KBAK.
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There are 17 recognized subspecies of aardvarks found across Africa. They are classified as “Least Concern” in the IUCN Red List, although their population in the wild is declining. Photo: Macmillan Dictionary.