Baby Aardvark: 10 Pictures and 6 Amazing Facts

The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a distinctive mammal native to Africa. They are widely distributed south of the Sahara from Senegal to Ethiopia to South Africa, including the Congo Basin. Meanwhile, they are absent from the Sahara and Namib deserts; coastal areas of Namibia, Ivory Coast, Ghana; and Madagascar. Local population distribution and density, however, are largely determined by the abundance and distribution of both suitable habitat and prey.

The aardvark is the sole surviving member of an entire order of mammals, the Tubulidentata. This makes it the most evolutionarily distinct mammal on the planet! Their closest living relatives are over in the Afroinsectivora clade, which includes the elephant shrews, golden moles, otter shrews, and tenrecs.

Because aardvarks carry so much unique evolutionary history in their genes, every baby born is special and ensures the continuation of this incredible species! Here are 10 cute pictures and 6 cool facts about baby aardvarks sure to brighten up your day.

#1 Aardvark Mothers Are Pregnant For About 7 Months and Usually Have Just One Baby at a Time

Aardvarks almost always give birth to just a single young at a time, with twins rare. The newborn is pink, wrinkly, and hairless; hair does not start growing until about 5 – 6 weeks old. However, it is born with its eyes open.

#2 Baby Aardvarks Are Raised Solely By Their Moms

Aardvarks are generally solitary creatures, except for when mothers have young. Adult males and females only come together briefly during mating season, with the males not involved in raising the young thereafter. A baby aardvark spends its first two weeks of life safe in the burrow, after which it will begin to accompany its mother on her nightly feeding trips to search for ants and termites.

#3 Baby Aardvarks Are Weaned Around 3 – 4 Months Old

Like all mammals, baby aardvarks start out life by drinking mom’s milk. However, they will begin munching on ants and termites alongside their mother and wean off milk around 3 to 4 months of age.

#4 Baby Aardvarks Can Dig Their Own Burrows When They Are Around 6 Months Old

Even though young aardvarks can live independently once they can both dig their own burrows and feed themselves, they usually still stay with their mothers until the following mating season before striking out on their own.

#5 Baby Aardvarks Reach Adult Size By Around 1 Year Old

Although they are fully grown after about a year, aardvarks don’t reach sexual maturity until about 2 years old. A fully grown aardvark weighs anywhere from 40 – 100 kg (88 – 220 lbs) and measures 1.4 – 2.2 m (4.6 – 7.2 ft) long, with males a bit larger and heavier than females on average.

#6 Aardvarks Have An Average Lifespan of About 18 Years in the Wild and 23 Years in Captivity

The longest-lived aardvark on record lived to the impressive age of 29 years and 9 months!

Summary

Aardvarks have a gestation of about 7 months and usually give birth to a single pink, wrinkly, and hairless young. Baby aardvarks are raised solely by their mothers. They leave the burrow after 2 weeks, are weaned around 3 – 4 months old, and can dig their own burrows around 6 months old, but usually still stay with their mothers until the following mating season. They grow to adult size by around 1 year old and reach full maturity around 2 years old. Aardvarks live an average of 18 years in the wild and 23 years in captivity, with the longest-lived individual on record living to nearly 30 years.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © AdamZ9/Shutterstock.com