Details
Proteles cristata
A small hyena relative of eastern and southern African grasslands. Despite its hyena-like look, it feeds mainly on termites.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
Aardwolves inhabit dry grassland, savanna, and open scrub. They avoid wet forest and true desert, favoring areas with suitable termite colonies.
They have yellowish fur with black stripes, a raised mane, and large ears. The slender build and teeth reflect insect feeding rather than large-prey hunting.
They are nocturnal and usually forage alone, resting in burrows by day. When threatened, they raise the mane and use strong-smelling secretions.
Termites dominate the diet. A long tongue licks worker termites from the ground, and the species rarely hunts large prey.
Pairs breed within territories and rear young in dens. Adults guard the den area until pups can move outside safely.
The contrast between carnivore appearance and termite diet makes the aardwolf one of the most specialized members of the hyena family.
