Aardwolf * Maanhaarjakkals * Proteles Cristata

Aardwolves are shy and nocturnal, sleeping in burrows by day. They will, on occasion during the winter, become diurnal feeders. This happens during the coldest periods as they then stay in at night to conserve heat.

The aardwolf is an insectivorous species of hyena. It eats insects and their larvae, mainly termites; one aardwolf can lap up as many as 250,000 termites during a single night using its long, sticky tongue. The aardwolf's tongue has adapted to be tough enough to withstand the strong bite of termites.

An adult aardwolf weighs approximately 7–10 kg (15–22 lb), sometimes reaching 15 kg (33 lb). As an aardwolf ages, it will normally lose some of its teeth, though this has little impact on its feeding habits due to the softness of the insects that it eats.

Aardwolves do not scavenge or kill larger animals. Contrary to popular myths, aardwolves do not eat decaying flesh, and if they are seen eating while hunched over a dead carcass, they are actually eating larvae and beetles. They are actually beneficial to the farmers because they eat termites that are detrimental.
Jakkals Hiena Jackal