Tubulidentata is a member of the Eukarya domain, the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, and Mammalia class, Tubulidentata order, Orycteropodidae family, and the Eutheria subclass and contains only one living species, the Orycteropus afer, or aardvark ("Taxonomic Summary;" "Tubulidentata"). Eutheria consists of animals that have placentas, including "all mammals except monotremes and marsupials" ("Eutheria," 2008). The order is unique because of the unusual teeth that its members have("numerous hexagonal prisms of dentine surrounding tubular pulp cavities" ("Tubulidentata"). Aardvarks are found in Africa and live in the savannas, grasslands, woodlands, and bush, but do not live in the desert, because there is nothing there for them to eat (Armen, 2007). They like to eat small insects, primarily ants and termites, but they also feed on plants (Armen, 2007; "Tubulidentata"). The word "aardvark" is an Afrikaner word meaning "earth hog," which refers to the fact that it resembles a pig, although it is actually more closely related to the elephant ("Tubulidentata"). The aardvark's digits are a cross between claws and hoofs and are "adapted for burrowing and tearing open termite mounds" ("Tubulidentata"). The aardvark also has a long tongue that allows it to lick up the insects ("Tubulidentata"). The aardvark has thick skin and bristly hairs ("Tubulidentata").
The aardvark's living conditions are unlike most other mammals, because it is a nocturnal animal that is active at night rather than in the daytime ("All About Aardvarks"). It sleeps during the day in a large underground den that it digs with its large claws, and then it hunts for food at night ("All About Aardvarks"). It is a shy and solitary animal that does not interact much with other animals ("All About Aardvarks"). Aardvarks are very clean, and they dig little pits around their burrow for their droppings ("Aardvark"). When the pits are full, the aardva...