Aardvarks vs Anteaters
Identifying the difference between Aardvarks and Anteaters is quite tricky in the first glance as both these creatures look so much alike. If you look again of course, you will see that anteaters and aardvarks are two different species. Aardvarks and Anteaters belong to the same Kingdom (Animalia), Phylum (Chordata), and Class (Mammalia). Their habitats are usually in savannas where the trees are sufficiently small and widely spaced-out. These two uncommon animals share the same diet – the termite and ant diet. However, it would be interesting to know that anteaters are known as carnivores while aardvarks are known as omnivores. In this manner, there are a number of differences between aardvarks and anteaters that are detailed below.
What is an Aardvark?
The name Aardvark (scientific name: Orycteropus afer) comes from the Afrikaans word which means earth pig. Aardvark is sometimes also known as antbear. This creature is a native resident of Africa. The most distinctive feature of the aardvark is its teeth th at are thin and upright and contain no enamel. Its teeth, even though they can be worn out easily, are capable of growing again. Teeth are its main tools to hunt for termites and ants. Aardvark also has very powerful feet which it uses to dig burrows to sleep during the day, as they are nocturnal. These feet are also very useful to dig termite mounds.
What is an Anteater?
Anteaters are of four species namely: Northern Tamandua (4ft. long), Southern Tamandua (also 4ft. long), Silky Anteater (14inches long), and the Giant Anteater. The largest of the four species is the Giant Anteater, measuring around 6ft long of which the distinct feature is that it has no teeth. Since it has no teeth, it is known as an edentate animal. In hunting for food, it solely depends on its powerful claws to dig and open up ants and termites nest. An anteater finds its prey not by sight, but by smell. Its eyesight is poor. Also, anteaters are found in Central and South America. Another interesting fact about anteaters is that some anteaters such as the silky and tamandua anteaters search for food in trees.
What is the difference between Aardvarks and Anteaters?
Though they look almost the same, aardvarks and anteaters are two completely different animals. Aside from aardvarks having teeth and anteaters having none, both of these animals are anatomically different.
The forelimbs of aardvarks have claws while, in anteaters, their large claws are in their paws. Even though aardvarks have their teeth, they lack the tooth-like apparatus located on anteaters’ mouth that helps anteaters grind ants and termites. Also, compared to aardvarks, anteaters have more fur. Aardvark is the only kind of its own whereas anteaters are of four different species.
Summary:
Aardvark vs Anteaters
• Aardvarks and Anteaters belong to the same Kingdom (Animalia), Phylum (Chordata), and Class (Mammalia).
• But, anteaters are carnivores while aardvarks are omnivores.
• Both animals are anatomically different.
• In hunting termites and ants, aardvarks use their teeth while anteaters use their sharp claws to open up the nests of the termites and ants.
• Aardvark is the only kind of its own whereas the Anteater are of four species namely: Northern Tamandua, Southern Tamandua, Silky Anteater, and the Giant Anteater.
Photos By: Heather Paul (CC BY-ND 2.0), Fernando Flores (CC BY-SA 2.0)