The Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a mid-sized African mammal. It is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2.
Description[]
The aardvark, which translates as "Earth Pig" in Afrikaans, is an insectivorous mammal found across Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite its name, it is the last surviving member of the order "Tubulidentata", named after their unusual peg-like teeth, and is more closely related to elephants and manatees than to pigs. Its stout body is somewhat pig-like in appearance and, unlike other insectivorous animals, it features a large snout that it uses to find food. A large aardvark can weigh up to 80kg (180lbs).
Found in a variety of habitats including savannah and woodland, the aardvark is a solitary, nocturnal creature that preys almost exclusively on ants and termites. After finding a mound, it rips into the dirt with its powerful claws and uses its 30cm long tongue to catch its prey. It will also eat Cucumis humifructus, a species of cucumber which forms a symbiotic relationship with the aardvark. Aardvarks live in burrows which they dig themselves and abandoned aardvark burrows often provide homes for other animals such as warthogs.
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
"An eager earth digger" - Animal Panel description.
The aardvark is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2 and was added as part of the African Adventure expansion pack. In Campaign and Challenge mode, it is available for adoption when a zoo reaches a rating of 2.5 stars. It costs $10,000 to adopt an aardvark, rather than the $7,500 expected for an animal that requires 2.5 stars.
The aardvark is a Scrub animal, but will also tolerate Savannah. An aardvark may dig itself under ground before re-emerging. It will also utilise the Savannah burrow. An aardvark will live for ten months and twenty nine days, and take one month and seven days to grow to full maturity. They have a gestation period of forty days. When they do give birth the females can have 1-2 cubs.
 zootycoon.com Description
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| The aardvark (Afrikaans for “earth pig”) is found throughout much of Africa, from the southern part of Egypt to the Cape of Good Hope. It is a nocturnal animal that lives in burrows and feeds on ants, termites, and other insects. When it digs a burrow, the aardvark uses its fleshy tail to throw back earth. It has an arched back, a tubular snout, and large, upright ears. It uses its chisel-shaped claws to break open the hard clay of termite nests and then eats them with its sticky tongue. |
 Zoopedia Description
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| Aardvark (Afrikaans for "earth pig") is the common name for a burrowing, ant-eating mammal. The aardvark is found throughout much of Africa, from the southern part of Egypt to the Cape of Good Hope. A primarily nocturnal animal, it lives in burrows and feeds on ants and termites, occasionally eating other insects, the fat mouse, and a species of wild ground cucumber.
The aardvark is up to 2.3 m (7.5 ft) long, including the fleshy, tapering tail, which it uses to throw earth backward when it burrows. It has an arched back, a tubular snout, and large, upright ears. The aardvark uses its specialized, chisel-shaped claws to break open the hard clay of termite nests; then it uses its sticky tongue to capture the insects in the nest. Unlike the animals known as anteaters, which are toothless, the aardvark has 20 cylindrical, rootless teeth that grow continually throughout its lifetime. The female gives birth to one or occasionally two offspring, which can dig their own burrows at the age of six months. Although timid, the aardvark will fight when it cannot flee or burrow to safety; it defends itself with its powerful claws or by striking with its tail or shoulders. Fun Facts
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Gallery[]
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
Zoo Tycoon: The Board Game[]
