The aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) is an African carnivorous mammal of the family Hyaenidae. The aardwolf, whose name in Afrikaans means 'earth wolf', resembles a small striped hyena. It is yellowish with vertical black stripes and a bushy, black-tipped tail, and it bears a long, coarse mane of erectile hairs along the length of its back. The aardwolf lives on the open, grassy plains of southern and eastern Africa. The aardwolf feeds largely on termites, particularly on the species Trinervitermes trinervoides. It is nocturnal, lives in a burrow, and is usually solitary but may forage in small packs. The litter generally consists of three or four young. The aardwolf is harmless and shy; when attacked, by dogs for example, it emits a musky-smelling fluid and may fight. Research Aardwolf
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Nature
Research Aardwolf
