Aardvarks and anteaters are not related . Though it was once assumed that they were due to a few of their physical similarities. However, the truth of the matter is that the two do not have similarities as a sign of sharing a common ancestor, but rather due to convergent evolution. All have evolved powerful digging forearms and long tongues.
You see, Despite this local nickname, and their somewhat similar appearance, aardvarks and anteaters are not related , and live on separate continents. A resident of Africa, the aardvark is the only known living species of the Tubulidentata mammalian order.
So the aardvark is actually an entirely different species to the anteater. Yes, it sounds unlikely. Yet science confirms it and classifies it as such. The aardvark belongs to the Tubulidentata order. There is only one species of aardvark, which is indigenous to Africa . Anteaters belong to the Pilosa order.
What order does the Aardvark belong to?
The aardvark belongs to the Tubulidentata order . There is only one species of aardvark, which is indigenous to Africa. Anteaters belong to the Pilosa order.
What does an aardvark look like?
The aardvark is pale yellowish gray in color, and often stained reddish-brown by soil. The aardvark’s coat is thin and the animal’s primary protection is its tough skin. Anteaters and aardvarks are both mammals and produce one offspring per birth.
Do Aardvarks eat ants and termites?
Like anteaters, aardvarks have elongated snouts and tongues that they use to find and eat ants and termites . Do anteaters eat ants? Anteaters are one of the 22 myrmecophagous species in the world.
What do anteaters have in common with other animals?
In this case, the most obvious trait is that they feed on the same things. They’ve always lived continents apart, and yet they evolved along similar lines because of the specialization related to their diet. There are other animals that look like anteaters and aardvarks , based on this same principle.