Nature is brimming with wonders, and some species look so similar that it becomes difficult to tell them apart. Aardvark and anteater are two such creatures that often get confused by people. This is because of their similar looks and ecological niches. However, the truth is that they are quite distinct from each other. The aardvark is a mammal that resides all over Africa while the anteater is an insectivorous animal that lives in Central and South America.

Both aardvark vs anteater have similarities, but that is because of their shared diet of ants and termites. They have evolved over time to follow this common path of specialization. Aardvarks and anteaters also have similar traits in terms of their facial structure, but they do not look remotely related to each other or any other type of pig.

Snout Showdown: Aardvark vs. Anteater in the World of Insectivores

Anteaters are diurnal and prefer to sleep underground during the hot African daytime, while aardvarks are active at night. They both are expert climbers and solitary mammals, with the exception of their female offspring during mating season.

Aardvarks are ungulates, with claws on their forelimbs and a long tail. They use their claws to dig up ants and termites from mounds or tree holes, but they can also chew the insects if the need arises.

Like many wild species, aardvarks are at risk of habitat loss as people expand their agricultural and urban areas into natural aardvark habitats. They are also susceptible to a range of predators, including lions and hyenas. In the past, some tribes hunted aardvarks for meat and used their teeth as charms. Today, AWF is working with communities near aardvark habitats to create sustainable agricultural and settlement growth that avoids impacting aardvarks.