Main Difference – Aardvark vs Anteater
Anteaters and aardvarks are two mammals that have very similar appearances but belong to two different species. Anteaters belong to the order Pilosa, and aardvarks belong to the order Tubulidentata. Since both are known for eating ants and termites; they share some similar characteristic features related to their diet. These features include the presence of long snouts with long, sticky tongues, reduced or absent dentition, large claw-like nails, tough skin or scales that protects from biting ants and termites. Due to these features, both aardvark and anteater are mistakenly identified as one species. Despite the similarities, they show many differences and put into completely different orders. The main difference between aardvark and anteater is the presence of teeth in aardvark unlike in anteater. More differences between these two mammals will be discussed in this article.
Aardvark – Facts, Characteristics, and Behavior
Aardvark is the only living species of order Tubulidentata and found in savannahs and wooded grasslands in sub-Saharan Africa. The name ‘aardvark’ means ‘earth pig’ in the African language. Aardvark has a heavy body with short, thick legs and a long head and snout, which is unique to this species. The tip of the snout is blunt and have two nostrils like in pigs. The ears are long and tubular in shape. Their pinkish-gray can be seen through the hairs, which are dull brownish or yellow-gray in color. The tail is long, muscular and has no hairs. These creatures are well adapted to eat ants and termites, thus are often called pure anteaters. An adult aardvark may weigh up to 60 kg and measure about 1.5m in length. Their eyes are smaller with weak sight. However, their hearing and olfactory organs are extremely well-developed. The hind feet have five toes, and the forefeet four, each with a powerful claw-like nail. These nails are important for digging. Their head is elongated and has a small tubular mouth with a long, sticky tongue, which is used to collect termites and ants into the mouth. Unlike anteaters, aardvark has teeth. Incisors and canines are present only during the fetal stage. Adult aardvarks have 20-22 premolars and molars, which grow continuously. Teeth are hexagonal in shape without enamel and have a tubular pulp cavity. These creatures are nocturnal and live in burrows during the day.
Anteater – Facts, Characteristics, and Behavior
Anteaters belong to the family Myrmecophagidae, which includes 2 genera and 3 species. Anteaters are found only in savannahs and forest habitats in South America. They are well distinguished from other mammals by their elongated skulls with long rostrum. Mouth is very small with long, sticky tongue similar to aardvark. But unlike aardvarks, anteaters lack teeth. Hence, they are called edentate mammals. The tongue is covered with viscous secretion produced by submaxillary glands and also has barb-like spins on it. Due to these adaptations, they can trap ants and termites easily. The giant anteater is the largest species that reaches up to about 2 m in length and weighs as much as 40 kg. Anteaters have coarse gray hair and a bushy tail. These creatures are terrestrial and can be either nocturnal or diurnal. They are not burrowers. Long powerful claws are used for foraging. They are considered as endangered species due to rapid habitat loss, hunting, and illegal trade.
Difference Between Aardvark and Anteater
Classification
Aardvark belongs to order Tubulidentata, which includes only this species.
Anteater belongs to order Pilosa, which includes 3 species.
Body weight
Aardvarks usually weigh up to 60 kg.
Anteaters usually weigh up to 40 kg.
Location
Aardvarks live in Africa.
Anteaters live in South America.
Habitat
Aardvarks are burrowers.
Anteaters are entirely terrestrial.
Active time
Aardvarks are nocturnal.
Anteaters are either diurnal or nocturnal.
Teeth
Aardvarks have teeth.
Anteaters lack teeth.
Tails
Aardvarks have muscular tails with no hairs.
Anteaters have bushy tails.
Image Courtesy:
“Ant eater” by Fernando Flores from Caracas, Venezuela – Giant anteater | Oso hormiguero (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
“Aardvark” by Masur, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
