They aren’t aardvarks and they aren’t wolves, so what are aardwolves? | National Geographic

What a beautifully unique animal!!🖤 This is a baby aardwolf — which actually isn’t a wolf at all despite the name. It’s one of the four hyena species! Absolutely incredible and so unique, with a diet made up almost entirely of insects (primarily termites) 🐜 . . . #Aardwolf #HyenaSpecies #WildlifeEducation #UniqueAnimals #AnimalFacts #Conservation #BeautifulAnimals #RareSpecies #NatureLovers #WildlifeDaily #AnimalEncounters | Rio Lilly

Meet the aardwolf — a shy, nocturnal member of the hyena family that prefers termites and insects. But don’t be fooled by their peaceful diet, when it comes to territory, aardwolves are very serious. Aardwolves have anal glands that produce a strong-smelling secretion, which they use to mark their territory boundaries. The scent fades after a few days, so aardwolves re-mark frequently to maintain a clear signal to rivals. Shout out to our fantastic Founder Bill Given for this footage! . . . #the

The aardwolf, a fascinating creature native to the grasslands of Africa, never fails to captivate with its unique features and behaviors. Despite its wolf-like appearance, the aardwolf is not a true wolf but rather a member of the hyena family (the smallest member of the Hyena family). What sets this nocturnal mammal apart is its specialized diet, consisting almost exclusively of termites. Instead of hunting down larger prey like its hyena relatives, the aardwolf uses its long, sticky tongue to