The ecology of the aardvark, Orycteropus afer (Tubulidentata - Orycteropodididae)

Abstract

Nine aardvarks were captured to have radio transmitters attached at Tussen die Riviere Nature Reserve. These aardvarks were followed using radio telemetry to investigate their activity patterns, home ranges, nightly movements, burrow utilisation and feeding ecology. Two became habituated and could be observed at close range. Activity patterns were found to vary seasonally, with aardvarks becoming active earlier, remaining active for shorter periods, and returning to their burrows earlier in winter than in summer. Home ranges were estimated between 133.lha and 301.7ha (95% MCP), and between 147.3ha and 384ha (90% adaptive kernel). There was no apparent difference between males and females. Aardvarks utilised burrows for an average of 4.9 to 8.6 days and travelled distances between 2 .11 and 4. 3 9km per night. Faecal analysis and feeding observations indicated that the aardvarks diets consisted entirely of ants and termites, with ants predominating over termites as the main prey source. The two most important prey species were A. custodiens and T trinervoides. There was considerable monthly variation in prey species contributions, but in all months A. custodiens dominated. Seasonal trends were tenuous, with T trinervoides possibly more important in winter than summer. There was a clear peak in T. trinervoides mound predation in winter, possibly as a result of the presence of alates in the mounds at the time. Ant populations, specifically A. custodiens, were considered at their lowest in winter, so predation from T. trinervoides mounds at the time may have supplemented the aardvarks diets.