Southern Aardwolf
Proteles cristatus
Points
15
per confirmed sighting
Southern Aardwolf.
Proteles cristatus
Category
mammals
Family
Hyaenidae
Size
A robust single adult size range was not inserted from the checked SANBI literature set because published values vary by sex and region.
Points
15 pts
A closer look
Field notes for spotting, identifying and understanding southern aardwolf in its natural range.
Overview
How to identify it
Habitat
Open grassland, shrubland and savanna where suitable harvester termites occur; uses burrows for shelter.
Diet
Extreme insect specialist; in South Africa Trinervitermes termites can make up more than 90% of the diet, with seasonal use of other termites/invertebrates.
Behaviour
When to look
Predominantly nocturnal, with seasonal shifts in foraging timing.
Where to see it
South Africa
Namibia
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Mozambique
Eswatini
AngolaSafety and etiquette
Observe from a safe distance and never handle or feed wildlife.
Verification and sources
1500 verified species across ten Southern African countries. Spotted an error? Tell us through community guidelines.